Jack and Cat Curio

Eighties fix and December rush.

2009-12-04T07:10:00.000-08:00

Unfinished beeswax panels in the studio.

I need an eighties fix today.
I take comfort in the eighties.
Thompson Twins, Breakfast Club, Depeche Mode, Ferris, Sixteen Candles,
big hair, Dallas, pegged and rolled jeans, early U2, a touch of punk,
Valley Girl, Duran Duran, Solid Gold.
The list can go on and on...
I need it this morning.
I need a relaxing moment of calm.
December is upon us.
It has hit fast and furious.
Lesley's mom has had a kidney transplant this week.
(So far so good)
The family biz has been cranking away.
Holiday youth camps have been planned out.
Holiday orders and goodies have been in full swing.
Thanksgiving has been cleaned and settled.
Xmas is getting set up.
CHA pieces are being created.
Gifts for family and friends are being produced, found, and hunted.
Home essentials are seeking attention this month
the water heater, the dryer, the water pipes.
Computer fix it jobs are keeping me on my toes.
Freelance design has been found where it can.
The nights have gotten longer.
The weather has finally turned colder.
My immune system has been bombarded.
Working with kids... I get coughed on, wiped on, cried on,
spewed upon, groped, kicked, hugged, and glued.
Why do I love teaching?
Besides being an inspiration, sharing, and creating.
I love organized chaos.
Plus -you never have the same day.
Also I love snack time.
I like snack.
Two of my favorite words... snack... and lunch...

Kids also make laugh.

Its always changing.
Never a boring moment.

So anywho...

With all that.
We have decided to take some time off for awhile.
We need to get caught up on a few things.
We have decided to spend the next month or two
centering on family and friends.

The studio will be staying busy!
But we have decided to cut back on adult teaching for the next month or two.

We have several new projects in the making, techniques to share,
and several tech/ web related ideas that we want to get started on.
Also a few artistic Holiday gatherings to plan.

So we will only be teaching once this month.

This class will be offered this Saturday!

At Frenzy Stamper in Scottsdale.
We will be teaching our last beeswax collage class for the year.
The theme is "Romantic Twenties".
From Paris to New York.
Music halls, flappers, silent film starlets, and showgirls.
If you are an advanced student and you would
like to fuse your own images so that you
can create a special gift in this class. Just send me your own
photos via email and I will prepare your images.

One of Saturday's class samples...

Thanks everyone for reading.

I'm off to bounce over to Tim's blog for a peek at today's tag.

Creepy things...

2009-11-17T18:55:00.000-08:00

creep·y (krp)

adj. creep·i·er, creep·i·est Informal

1. Of or producing a sensation of uneasiness or fear,
as of things crawling on one's skin: a creepy feeling; a creepy story.

2. Annoyingly unpleasant; repulsive: the creepy kids next door.

So... here is a post... all about the creepy.
Creepy happens.
A sensation that makes the hairs
on the back of your neck stand up.

I just got done reading a handful of books.
My favorites of these-all have a huge touch of creepy.
The most recent of these reads.
Were two of the three Scandinavian thrillers from Steig Larson.
Love these books.

I like it when creepy visits but doesn't last.
I actually meant to throw this post up months ago.
More of an October story.

But I think about it all the time....

If you have ever rented a home or two...
You know that sometimes you inherit a little creepy.
Renters leave things behind.
Sometimes treasures can be found...but most often- not.
I once rented a place where the renters before forget to
pack up an entire alcohol cabinet.
That was a treasure.
Other times I have found baby alligator heads in
a broken crock pot in a basement.
That was disturbing.
Other times ... dirty diapers, jewelery, books, furniture, gun powder,
broken toys, damaged pipes, broken windows, etc.

I have seen it all.

The worst thing we ever inherited was a "poltergeist" in
an old farmhouse in Sacramento, Ca.
My family moved in. We began restoration on the place.
I was in fourth grade at the time.
Place was extremely haunted.
Took us about three years to figure out that we needed to move.

Floating shower curtains, dead animals,
all the children suffering from nightmares.
Every family member can share a specific story or experience on that one.

Then sometimes you rent a place filled with other peoples history.
Photos, ephemera, storage spaces filled with crap.
The owner says that you are allowed
all access on the property... except for that one area.

Then after a month of renting you go look in that area anyway.

But have you ever rented a place with a secret room?

Have you ever rented a place for a few months?
Then you noticed something creepy?
My very rockin -artist- sister in law and brother had this happen.

Her and my brother rent this house up in Seattle.
When one day they noticed they had a certain window on the house.
It should have been connected to a room?
They went investigating.
In the extra bedroom they found a secret door...
Behind a mock wall was a secret little room.
Here is a picture of what they found...
Also a link to her post...describing what they found...
The Wolf Aesthetic
Because she writes it better than me...

Enjoy... sometimes creepy lingers...

Talk with you all soon!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-25T11:21:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving everyone!
We give thanks to our families & friends.

Here are a few images we put together for ya. Enjoy all!
Have a great weekend.
Be back soon...

Planning for the holidays & Pretty Paris this weekend!

2009-11-16T10:54:00.000-08:00

A good weekend.
Planning the next few months out.

Digging recipes out, making cards, pulling addresses.
Its going to be one wild ride this holiday season.
No joke....
Centering ourselves and the studio for what may come.
Cleaned things this weekend.
Everything from computer files, to old studio piles.
We will be hosting Thanksgiving this year.
Also perhaps Christmas and a few more surprises.

We have some exciting things to share coming up.

I want to say thanks to everyone that has visited the blog in the last few weeks.
Lesley and I love your comments.
(So does my mom- LOL)

Almost done with the photo restoration and clean up.
I will start sending a few back in the next day or two.
Thanks for sharing.

Lesley and I will be teaching another Pretty Paris Beeswax Class
at Paper Vineyard this upcoming Saturday.
Here is a peek at some of the examples for the class.
This class will go over a few new techniques
that we have discussed in past classes.
If you are in the area this Saturday... stop in and say "Hello"!

Dude! Your mom is so hot and cool!

2009-11-11T07:07:00.000-08:00

My mom last year at Vulture Mine.

Dude!Your mom is so hot and cool!

I have heard it since I was in fifth grade.
I heard it when my mom came for our PTA school parties.
I heard it when she would pick us up after school.
I heard it at our birthday parties.
I heard it when friends and relatives came over.
My brothers and my sister have heard it everywhere we go.
Sleep overs. Football games. Theater shows.
Fencing practice. Band practice. Bar shows.
Even when we were getting our tattoos.

My mom in the late sixties.

Our mom is a mix of gypsy, actress, historian, shaman, and master storyteller.

She has saved my life several times.
Not just watching over me as a kid.
But watching over me as an adult as well.
I had a tumor the size of a softball under my chin several years ago.
Due to her work and her decisions.
I'm still alive.

My sister, brother Andy, and myself.
Hippie kids!

She has cared for us all.
Nurtured, protected, and encouraged.

Our mother is a fighter.
A survivor.
Our best friend.

She has adopted many in our house over the years.

Not just my three brothers and sister.
But children of best friends, cousins, girlfriends,
band mates, the list goes on.

My other brothers and sister. Seattle branch.

You have done a great job with us all.

Happy Birthday Kay!
We love ya!

My mom turned 65!
She is still cool and hot!

PS: This music mix is for you.
Thanks For Bob Dylan, the Doors, Peter, Paul, and Mary, Arlo,
Hoyt, Clapton, the blues, and all the rest...

My Brothers. Happy Youth.
Nothing like filling your pajamas with stuffed animals.

The brothers Sam, Andy, and Chris.

My brother and our Christi!

My mother as a child.

A quick post...Paris on the brain..

2009-11-10T08:28:00.000-08:00

Me and some of the talented ladies from class at Paper Vineyard. I'm such a nerd!

Hey all!
Had a great weekend.
Hope that you all did as well.
Talked with old friends (thanks Christi), had enjoyable food, made some great gifts,
and celebrated a very special birthday.
Not to mention slept in a bit.... had time to read several books...
I owned the weekend.
The weekend usually owns us.
Had a terrific class on Saturday...
Ranger Ink Technique... Mini Ranger U as some call it.
Fun times. I love teaching this class.
Because every time I teach it I find something new.
Thanks to everyone at Paper Vineyard for a great class.
More class notes are coming soon.
I will be traveling over to the PV this morning to drop off another
sample for our class on November 21st.
Here is a peek at another sample for this class.

Our new "Paris" set is looking damn good.
Tim's new "French Marketplace" stamps are adding to the cool effects.
I was waiting for someone to create a stunning Paris set.
Leave it to him.
I believe his "I See Paris" stamp set is one of my fav's of all time.
Each are used in the sample above.
Thanks Tim!

Also a big "Thanks" to everyone that sent us photos
for our repair and restoration boards.
Your pics are great.
Not only did we receive some very challenging photos.....
but some incredible stories to go with them.
We have decided to work on all the photos that have been sent.
So if you have not heard from us yet.
Don't give up hope.. you will.
We will have them back to ya as soon as we can.
Keep your eyes posted.
Some are a bit more challenging than others.....
Thanks again everyone.

More later....
Have a great Tuesday!

We all have a tune.

2009-11-05T06:13:00.000-08:00

Everyone has a soundtrack.

We all step to a rhythm of some sort.
A song for everyone.
It might change for us as we get older.
Some days require different tunes.
But we all have a song.
Honest.

Each morning I get up... I get out of bed... I get coffee..
Give Lesley a kiss, say "hello" to the dogs.
Flip the computer on.
Choose a song.
That first song sets me up for the day.
This has been the ritual since I was in junior high.
Sometimes it might be an older selection, bluegrass, punk,
old rock, cowbell, blues, soundtrack from an old movie, etc.
I'm big on soundtracks.

Most people can be read easily with a few simple questions.
Two kinds of people in the world...
TV folk or music folk?
Sinatra? Or Elvis?
Rolling Stones? or Beatles?
Ramones? or Sex Pistols?
Victoria Secret? or Fredericks?
Briefs? or Boxers?
Beer? or Wine?
Dog Person? or Cat Person?
Its all about your romantic view on the world.
Risk taking. Thought of adventure. Creative energy.
Self perception is a funny thing.

Do you remember the first time you recorded your voice on a tape?
Then played it back and really listened to the way you sound?

You got bored kids?... give them a tape recorder , a tape, and a microphone.
Just listen to what they do with it.
The gibberish and antics they can create .
Fantastic.
But the best is when kids... really hear themselves for the first time.
Most of us identify with the sounds and images
we all see on television and at the movies.
Certain images and music can send us back, reflect, ponder, remember.

My family and I moved so many times as a kid...
How did I deal with always being the new kid?
I would choose a role model from a movie.
I would envision how I wanted to appear to others.
Make it happen.
I would choose the soundtrack from the television show or movie.
Then play it over and over in my head.

James Bond didn't always fit in the fifth grade.
The "Fonz" would be hanging out in math class.
Ferris Bueller cut school often and did whatever he wanted.
James Dean from "Rebel Without A Cause"
would often make an appearance.
Christian Slater from "Heathers" made an appearance several times.
Started with a moped and french beret (not my best look).
Then traded up for a motorcycle and duster.

A really big "not so cool" moment...
When I first received my big black"duster" trench coat.
I wore it to high school.
I wore it while riding my moped.
At a red light.
I stopped.
Put on my ultra "cool" face.
As if a kid in a long black"Australian" duster
and a moped could look ultra cool.
I watched.. " Man from Snowy River" way too much as a kid.
Anyway.. Some girls pulled up.
I smiled.
Didn't give them much attention.
I was playing it really cool.
When the light turned green.
I cranked my throttle.
Ready to make the big departure in front of the ladies.
However...my duster got caught in my back wheel.
The more I cranked the throttle...
the more my coat got sucked into my back tire.
Causing me to choke myself.

It was a great scene to be sure...
A sixteen year old goth kid being choked
by his own trench coat in the middle of the road.
I ended up flipping the moped on top of myself.
I remember a "Jack In The Box" worker in full uniform came to my aid.
Bad day to be sure...
After that lesson...
I tried sitting on all that coat while riding my moped.
But then it looked like a speeding blur with a big black diaper.
Not the look I wanted.
I gave up the duster.

My soundtrack that day... "Staying Alive" ... Bee Gees.
Then it went deeply into romantic comedy.

Talk soon all,
-Mike

A quick class update & also a giveaway!

2009-11-02T10:17:00.000-08:00

Playing this weekend..my new self portrait..
All last month I was playing with creating an
"Alice In Wonderland"set of digital prints. Almost done.
That was my fist attempt at a Mad Hatter / Steampunk character.
I was having trouble... less Mad Hatter... more odd.
So I took a photo of myself from last Halloween and blended it into the piece.
Not bad..
Here is a peek at one of the pieces from the "Alice" set.
Its the "March Hare" print....
Its coming along...

A giveaway of sorts...
Ok bloggers... I need help....
Getting ready for the holidays.
Every year one of the big requests I get from folks is to do some
repair and restoration with photos.
I'm now in the process of putting together some display boards for service.
I need a good challenge...

I 'm on the search for damaged photos..
So... it goes like this..
If you have a damaged photo ...
a cherished photo on the brink of hopelessness...
tears? bends? fade out? discoloration? spots ? and noise?etc...
If you send it to me via email...
I will choose the top five -that I feel need my assistance the most.
I will repair your photo....and send it back to ya via email.
In exchange for repairing your photo...
All I ask ...is that I can use it in my portfolio and display boards of work done.
Not going to resell your image, use it in my artwork, no collage cd, etc..
Just repair...... then back at ya!
If you would like to send me a photo or two...
Just scan your photo.
Send it to me as big as you can get it... 300dpi would be the best.
If you have no idea about dpi... just scan and send ... I'll work with what I can..
Send it to:
jackandcatcurio@gmail.com.
Once received I will confirm with you via email...
Give me a day or two...
I 'll fix and post it here and send back to you within a couple of days.

Here is also an upcoming class update!
Lesley and I due to busy schedules, family, and more...
will only be teaching two classes this month.
Both will be at Paper Vineyard.
The first class is this Saturday at 10:00am at Paper Vineyard.
Its our Ranger Ink Technique Class Part 1
or as some like to call it "Mini Ranger U" class.
This is one of my favorite classes.
I love nothing more than sharing all the fantastic
techniques that I learned from Tim, Claudine, and Suze.
If you have Ranger products at home,
and your not sure how to incorporate them into your work,
or get the best results from these products.
This class is for you!
This class is all about the process and the journey.
Everyone will leave with a full tag book
with detailed directions for each technique.

Here is also a quick peek at our "Pretty Paris" Beeswax Collage Class.
This class will be taught at
Paper Vineyard on Saturday , November 21st at 1:00pm. We will post more on this before Friday...
we have a few more examples coming up.
If you have any questions ... send us an email.
Talk soon,
-Mike

Happy All Soul's Day!

2009-11-02T08:44:00.000-08:00

Happy All Soul's Day!

Picture taken this weekend at the MAC's Day of the Dead Fest!

Had a great weekend.
Good friends, great food, lots of scares.
Taking a moment to remember departed friends and family.
Music mix today has a touch of gospel blues....

Star Wars Gangsta Rap Special Edition

2009-10-30T10:28:00.000-07:00

Below is the video link for today.
This one goes out for Lesley.
Who for several years dressed as Darth Vader
every year for Halloween.
Because it was the handy down costume from her older bro.
Plus deep down she has a dark side.

Star Wars Gangsta Rap Special Edition

Halloween Weekend....

2009-10-30T07:21:00.000-07:00

Halloween Weekend!
As a kid you hope for it.
Long nights filled with candy, tricks, and pranks a plenty.
Halloween on a weeknight is hinky.
That's right.
I said hinky.
Going to school the next day?
No good. This always bothered me.
The only thing you liked about that as a kid...
Is before you departed your home for school
You could fill your pockets with your spoils.
Pixie sticks, taffy, various chunks of chocolate, and bubble gum.
Most of us that filled our pockets with candy for school.
Would learn the lesson of having chocolate
melt in our pockets not in our hands.
Something about taking large amounts of
candy to school made me happy.
It still does.

A Halloween weekend is like having a practice run.
You get two nights.
Plus a school day filled with an energetic buzz.
Friday night is open to various activities.
All day Saturday gives you time to prepare.
Then you get a late night Saturday.
So if you had a curfew you could really push it with your parents.

Today...
I'm preparing a haunted classroom and
disco dance for my newly acquired students.
Out the door to take advantage of any Halloween sales.
Then to the classroom to hang black lights, spider webs, disco balls,
and prepare the smoke machine.
Mix a few Halloween Dance tracks-
Jonas Brothers, Myley, a hokey pokey or two.
Maybe I can sneak some ABBA, Bee Gees,
and a touch of retro in between the Mambo No. 5.
I can hear the kids groan already...
"Mr. Mike? .... "that's old people music".... "my mom listens to that"...
The essential track to it all...
"Thriller"
The kids still go nuts for Michael Jackson.
They will play it over and over...

After the dance....haul it all home.
Set up my haunted lights outside.
Then maybe a night of spooky movies and carving pumpkins.
We might go out for a ghost walk or two......
haunted house perhaps, maybe visit a palm reader.

Perhaps we will go visit a certain friend
and arrive with a box of wine and enjoy a fire pit.

I love this time of year.

Every time I think of Halloween-I think of Ray Bradbury.
His imagery and words ring true with me.
I think of the Autumn People.
Dark carnivals...small towns... good and evil...
Adventure, thrills, and youth.

One of my favorite scenes is from the movie
"Something Wicked This Way Comes"
adapted from the novel of the same name by Ray Bradbury.

We butter our plain bread with delicious pain...

The movie had a few issues as a whole.
However it captures a few moments for me perfectly.
After I saw the scene with Jonathan Pryce and Jason Robards ....
I knew I wanted to be an actor.
I wanted to speak like that...
I went and memorized lines from Macbeth.
I had an illustrated version of Macbeth that my Mom had given to me.
She had hopes of getting me to read something
more than"Choose your Own Adventure" books.
You remember those books?.... Can you say? ...
Crapolla!
However it did get thousands of kids to read....
I was such a nerd.
I remember sitting on the monkey bars
with my other nerdy friends at recess.
Reading such newly acquired literary treasures from the school book sale.
You remember those?
School book sales?
In the eighties they packed the shelves with anything at these sales.
Buy a cheap crappy book and then use your change to buy
a cheap kitty poster? Or a lucky colored rabbit's foot?
To this day ... not sure what a lucky rabbits foot has to do with a book sale? or books?
Besides making money?
(The standards on these sales have gotten much better)

I remember being so happy with my lime green colored rabbit's foot.
Until I got home.
My mom informed me that it came from a real rabbit.
In my excited frenzy to purchase the foot... that fact had escaped me.
I went from excited- to disturbed.
I was now the owner of something I no longer
wanted to have any association with.
The thing was like the damn "Monkey's Paw". You remember that story?
Somehow due to my own selfish greedy needs.
I had fallen prey to those evil book sale people.
I was now the owner of an evil talisman.
A green rabbits foot.
All I knew is that I needed to rid myself of this damn green foot.
So I devised a plan...
Next day at school.
While everyone wast out on the playground.
I snuck back into class.
I found Jason Morgan's back pack.

Let me tell you about Jason.....
Jason Morgan ( As big as "Oregon".. or so we nicknamed)
was the fifth grade bully.
His hands were colossal. They looked liked stacked sausages.
He was in fifth grade and he already had "man hands".
At one time or another all the kids of the playground
would feel the pounding of those meaty clubs.
Jason was known to have a short fuse.
His whole body was already as big as Mr. Benson the fourth grade teacher.
You could tell that his mom or who ever nurtured this "mass of mean"
had sewn extra elastic on his jeans because he was so big.
Plus he had really bad breath.
When he pinned you down on the playground for a beating.
You could smell his breath flowing down onto your face.
A smell of five day old pajamas, syrup and peanut butter.
Most kids would start to do the vomit dance or dry heave due to the smell.

Once in a weekly fight with him... he had me pinned down.
During the very public beating .. I was able to glance to my left.
I saw a pile of old dog crap.
I devised a quick plan.
If I could just muster enough energy to lift my knee.
I could roll Jason off of me and directly into the dog crap.
If I succeeded I would be the most celebrated student of the entire school.
Jason might have beat me in a fight...
but I would have defaced him to public ridicule.

However...
Jason saw me starring at the pile of dog crap.
In one very fluid movement.
Jason picked me up and solidly planted my head into the pile of crap.
The public ridicule that was to be his.... was now all mine.

So months later...
With a proud smile I zipped that evil talisman into Jason's backpack.
I could think of no one better to receive such a gift.

A week later Jason Morgan and his family moved to Kansas.

In a way that rabbit foot did give me luck.

I hope that you all have a fantastic Friday night.
Halloween gift bundles have been sent out.
Go do something unruly and unexpected.
Talk with you all soon,
-Mike

Halloween Video for Thursday Oct 29, 2009

2009-10-29T12:01:00.000-07:00

Best costume for the day....

Halloween Video for Wednesday 10/28/2009

2009-10-28T11:59:00.000-07:00

Prankster Remi Gaillard!
I can easily see myself doing several similar pranks.
The guy at the ATM is my fav...

Two more days til Halloween!

2009-10-28T10:03:00.000-07:00

Helloooooooo Bloggers!
Here is another Halloween music mix for ya...
A little Halloween doo wop, surf,vintage, and a few goodies.
Love it.... especially in the studio..

So the last two days have been exhausting.
The body is beat.
Took a soccer ball to the head on Monday.
By a ten year old who looked twenty five.
Damn near knocked my head off.

You love moments like this with kids...
It was a total accident.
We went outside with a big group to run out some energy.
Turned to help a student.... wham... into my head.
The entire playground went quiet...
You could hear all the kids gasp...
None of the kids moved...
They all waited to see what would happen...
They had just met me ten minutes before....
Not sure what kind of reaction they they might get...
I'm a big dude..
For many of these kids the adult at home would be freaking...

I'm sure my angry bear like stare with my glasses tilted
and falling off my face scared the hell out of the kid.

In my own head I was rambling in some quick
speaking angry tongue not suitable for children's ears.

My face was throbbing.
Deep inside I was regressing into a nine year old with
bad dodgeball memories of catching the ball with my face.

But let calmness prevail..

I looked at him and the rest of the kids.
Then sternly but yet calmly reminded them about the rules of
kicking and throwing balls on the playground.

Its moments like these that remind me of being a kid..
I was that clumsy kid who usually had such accidents like this happen...

I do believe in our house growing up...
Almost every other night .....
Someone at our dinner table would knock over a glass of milk.
Of course it would occur at the same moment
my mother just sat down to join us.
Causing a stir of emotion and chaos at the table.

On some nights... if you were the cause of the spilling...
Your ears would receive the biggest ramble of adult angry garble.
The guilt factor was huge.

I remember when I first started working with kids.
I was doing group home shelter work.
Usually a typical shift would last twelve hours.
So most often.. I would would be making and eating
breakfast, lunch, and dinner with the kids.

I remember like clock work.. every other day...
Someone at the table would knock over a drink.
Always at the moment I was ready to sit down with everyone.

The first time it happened.... I was young and inexperienced.
I wanted to guilt the child and act out the role of my parents.
Because that's how we dealt with this situation at my house.

I caught myself...

In a group home setting... most kids come to you
from a bad family situation, or no family at all.

When most of these kids have an accident... they're already
waiting for the negative reaction to come down on them.

I remember looking at the kid...
He was just waiting for the negative.

Instead.... I thought it out ... treated the kid.. how I wanted to be treated.
Natural consequence... you spill... clean it up... that's all.
Accidents happen.
Part of life.

My parents aren't bad people... far from it.

Its just that you learn as you get older.
Have kids, deal with folks, teach, etc...

That just because that's how you were taught or treated....
doesn't always make it right.

I hate guilt.
Maybe that's my point.
Kids don't need guilt. Neither do adults.
If you got it... drop it.
Its a damaging emotion.

After the soccer ball to the head....
Lesley and I ran into an old college friend
and her husband at the grocery store.

Haven't touched base with anyone from
college since Lesley and I moved back from Seattle.

They told us about a few good friends that had passed away.
All younger guys than me. Guys that I had great respect for.
One of the guys I hung with for twenty years.
Then we lost touch.

He committed suicide.
What I remember most about him... is he carried such guilt.
All the time.
It ate him from within.

Guilt?

Its an old suit that needs to be thrown out and never worn.

I'll be back later...

Off to go do something unruly and unexpected!

Didn't mean to be a "Debbie Downer"...
Not the point..

Just taking it all in!

Talk soon,
-Mike

Halloween Video for 10/27/2009

2009-10-27T13:17:00.001-07:00

Three more days....

2009-10-27T12:54:00.000-07:00

Hello Bloggers.
Happy Tuesday!
So here are the winners from yesterday's Halloween Giveaway:

Sarah-Vintage Figments
Tina-{glue on my fingers} paint in my hair
T-Dizzle,
Mindy-Love,Mindy
and
Brenda Johnson Martell.

Send us your address in an email and
we will send you a Halloween prize bundle in the mail.
You can reach us at jackandcatcurio@gmail.com.
We will also track ya down thru email.
All the best.
Thank you everyone for your fantastic comments.
Kind words and big hearts.

Need to jump back into the classroom now...
I will be back on later tonight... with another giveaway and a longer post.
plus a special Halloween flavored ghost story.
Three more days til Halloween.
Talk soon,
Mike & Lesley

Halloween Video for 10/26/09

2009-10-26T09:24:00.000-07:00

Emelia is my favorite!

Hallowween Giveaway #1

2009-10-26T08:04:00.000-07:00

Four more days... til Halloween!
In celebration.... a few giveaways and a Halloween music mix a day!
Today is a "surf n turf" collection of Halloween music!
Thought that I would jump on here for a quick post.

I'm heading back into the classroom today!
What does that mean exactly?
I'll tell ya a little bit more tonight.

I'm damn excited.
Perfect timing.
I still have time to set up a Halloween Dance and a haunted house.
( I mean "Fall Harvest Dance"and "spooky harvest festival maze").

Its been three years since I worked with a big group of youth.
It's like riding a bike....
It makes me think of my teaching com padres.
I love co-teaching!
Ericka, Jared, Eric.
My fav's!

Today I go it alone.

Jumping into a classroom that needs repair,
kids that have been bored to bad behavior,
non inspired projects, broken spirits, broken centers.
A lonely playground.

Nothing is more upsetting to me...
than a neglected classroom and an uninspired child.

Can't wait to jump in and start inspiring.

I'll be back with more tonight...
But here is a quick giveaway..

We have several "Halloween" packs of goodies
created from various classroom materials.
Halloween Transparency, ephemera, 3-d objects.
Putting them all together in a nice prize bundle for your crafting desires.
I will post a photo or two tomorrow.

For today's Halloween giveaway-you need to leave a comment.

The question that you need to comment on is:
What is your favorite classroom experience?
Do tell.....

Tomorrow morning we will put all your names in a hat.
I will have Lesley pull 5 names out.
If she pulls your name- then you win.
If you happen to win-
We will mail the package to you/ or drop it off at a local store.
(For those that live out of country-we will gladly mail it to you as well!)
Comments close at 12:00 midnight.
Winner will be posted on Tuesday morning!
Happy Monday All!
Go do something unruly and exciting!
Talk soon!
-Mike

How well do you know me?

2009-10-19T08:23:00.000-07:00

Mike and the boys!

Where have I been?

Once again life moves quick.
Busy times this month.
In between making art...
POLKA TIME!
"Oktoberfest" festivities have been going strong.
Just a quick post.
I'll be back soon.
Just a quick "Hello"!

Hans/Mike/Gregor 09

Some pictures from friends lately.

Not really.
LOL.
Just having a Monday daydream....
I do love "Oktoberfest".

A special gift! Blogging Friends!

2009-10-08T08:01:00.000-07:00

I started blogging in September of 07.
Since then I have been on and off.
I go for great amounts of time.
Then sometimes life can be overwhelming and I stop.
But I always come back in some way or shape.
I love blogging.
This week I have been reminded why I blog.

We all have moments with our blogging....
What to blog about? How much should we share?
When to share? Share too much?
Is it self marketing? Ego? Friendship? Loneliness?
Sense of community? Validation? Acceptance? Informative?
Self Help?
The list goes on...

When I started... I jumped out the gate..
I loved the idea of an online art journal.
I started teaching others how to blog.

Couldn't get enough.
Such connections could be made.
I saw friendships being created, personal empowerment,
artistic sharing, sense of community.

Now we have Facebook... blogs can feed into that...
some folks still Myspace, NING communities, more websites, etc.
Some people have backed away from blogging.
Some have shared too much and have felt that burn.
For others the economy and finances have taken away a little spirit.
Time commitment for some.

Don't get me wrong.. plenty of people still blog.

I'm bad at getting back to people... some of you may have noticed.
Its the gypsy in me.
We moved so many times as a kid... so many schools, so many friendships.
Same with the stage... so many years acting...
Every six weeks or three months your on a new show.
New cast... new friends.. you share everything... then you move on to
the next acting gig and repeat the process.

My perspective... once a friend... always a friend.
You might not live in my neighborhood.
Or be in my direct line of vision.
But rest assured you are in my thoughts.

For me its the same with blogging friends.

Anywho.... I'm rambling.

Since I started blogging ...
I have created some fantastic friendships and connections.

I find it exciting that with blogging and Facebook so many
connections can be nurtured and developed.

What sparked this post?
A thoughtful gift and several emails and comments from friends.

Back in the Spring of 08 I started blogging and exchanged a
few emails with an artist in New Mexico.
Her name is Cheryl Thorpe.
A month or two after I started connecting with Cheryl.
I met her friend & artist Annie Onderdonk.
Anniee was visiting Az. and happened to stop here
in town at Mystic Paper (a local store and teaching hub).

That was back in May 08.
Since that time we have exchanged a few comments
and have been connected on Facebook.

Last week I received a package at Mystic Paper addressed to me.
It was from Cheryl.
Inside the package was a very fine soldered pendant.
In creating the piece she had used
one of my collage images from the blog.

So very cool!
That Cheryl would think to create a piece and
send it my way.... just a kindness sent to one person from another.
Made my day. I love it.

Thank you Cheryl!
Above is a peek at the piece she sent me.
Also a look at Cheryl's work and Annie's.
I hope that they forgive me for stealing the pics from another site.
Once a pirate always a pirate. LOL.
Don't take that "pirate" thing to seriously folks.
I do have strong belief issues with copyright.
But that is a topic for another day.

Cheryl's Artwork!
Above & Bellow

Annie's Artwork
Above & Below
Another such connection that runs in my head this week.

Is a blogging friend who was one of the first to
ever leave a comment on my blog.
We found each other on Flickr.
At the time the name of her blog was "Paper Mojo".
We exchanged a few comments for a few months.
She resides in that huge Lone Star State.
She's like every Texan I ever met... strong, loves to laugh, and full of life.
One day a good friend Becky Bunn of "Heart In My Hand"
called me and told me that this "Paper Mojo" gal was in town.
Did I want to meet her?
I instantly regressed to a fourth grader with a pen pal letter and dance.
I loved the idea!
That I was going to be able to put
a face to the blog words and comments.

Its kinda strange... the way that blogging and the Internet can join together folks.

So I met the lady behind "Paper Mojo"
her blog is now called "Glue on my Fingers".
Her name is Tina Wright.
Since I have met her we have traded a few ideas and goodies.
Its cool watching her grow as an artist, teacher, and a person.

Your in our thoughts Tina.
Stay strong.

The list of friends and folks that Lesley and I are thankful for goes on.
Your comments and emails are held dear.
We appreciate your thoughts, your words, your time.

All the best everyone.

Altered Pumpkin Anyone?

2009-10-08T10:58:00.000-07:00

October is rolling!
So a couple of things to talk about..
So I have decided to post up my "Photo A Day" and "Art A Day"
pics at the end of every Friday.
So as not to drive you all crazy.
If your into it- cool. If not- no problemo.
I'll post here and on Flickr.

Lesley and I thank you all for you lovely Birthday wishes.
Its very cool hearing from you folks.

I do believe the "blurker" population has gone up lately.
I know .... because I'm doing it myself... it happens.

For those that don't know...

blurker - noun - A blog lurker.
Someone who reads a lot of blogs but never posts any comments.

I know.....lately... my posts.......not so exciting.
But at least give a shout out.

Let me know you got a pulse.
Myself... I'll do the same. I need a kick in the ass lately.

Been in a bubble when it comes to responding to Facebook.

Starting this weekend we will start having a few giveaways again.

So speaking of hearing from friends.... a few local folks have gone missing lately.

Not really...
They just can't be found lurking around the world wide web,
and some of the usual artistic hangouts.
You know who you are.

So Lesley and I were thinking of an altered art/Halloween project
to help bring you all out.
Most likely one of the weekends before Halloween.

Something like an ....

Altered Art Pumpkin Contest!
Anyone up for this?

Already the images are forming in my head..
pumpkins with legs, wings, stamped, carved, dressed, warped,
grunge pumpkin, distressed pumpkin, patched pumpkin,
fused pumpkin, bees waxed pumpkin, collaged pumpkin, etc...
.
Perhaps a local artist get together.
Also perhaps an online contest for those living afar.

I'm throwing the idea out.
To see who bites.....
Perhaps a local store would like to help host?
( At least for the local folks)
Or perhaps we will do the entire contest online.
People will send photos by due date, etc..
I'll post. You vote.
Lesley & I will put together a few prize packs.

Let me now your thoughts. Sooner the better.
You can email me at: jackandcatcurio@gmail.com
or leave a comment.

Like I said things have been quiet out in blog land lately.
If we get more than a handful of people interested.
We will start the ball rolling.....
Hope to hear from you all.

Upcoming Classes

2009-10-08T11:32:00.000-07:00

Dark Mystery Shadowbox Class examples at Frenzy Stamper.

Having trouble with Blogger today....
Acting a little hinky.

Wanted to attach this with the last post... but its fighting me.

So we have two upcoming classes in the next week.
So if your looking for a spooky creative time.
We would love to have ya.

This Saturday October 10th.
We will be teaching at Frenzy Stamper in Old Scottsdale.
The is our Dark Mystery Shadowbox Class.
We will be exploring how to convert a cigar box
into a perfect dark and mysterious tell tale box.

All supplies will be provided.
All students will receive a curio kit filled with goodies.
Here's a peek at the project.

Dark Mystery Shadowbox Class example at Frenzy Stamper.

Then On Thursday Oct 15th.
We will be back at Frenzy Stamper.
To teach our Halloween Silhouettes and colored beeswax class.
In this class we will explore the basics of beeswax.
Then dive in to the benefits of colored wax,
imprinting & stamping, and introduce molding with beeswax.
All to achieve a spooky delightful piece.
All supplies will be provided.
Students will be able to choose their own
imagery from a vast Halloween collection.

Here is a peek at a few examples:

An added bonus to classes at Frenzy Stamper....
Besides such a fine classroom,
creative store owner, and eye candy inspiring shelves.

"Sprinkles" is so close for a quick cupcake boost.

Red velvet....... hmmm...

Happy Birthday Lesley

2009-10-07T10:27:00.000-07:00

This is Lesley!

She's the "Cat" in Jack & Cat Curio.
My other half.
My partner in all things.

It was her birthday on Monday.
I love this woman.
We met thirteen years ago.
While she was attending college in Tucson.
I was helping put together a theater company.
She lived next door to my best friend.
The first time I met her ... I knew...

I knew that I wanted to spend as much time
with her as life would allow me.

At that moment-it scared the hell out of me.
She scared the hell out of me.

Every dare or challenge I threw out. She threw back at me.

That first time I met her I was slow to act.
I was dumbfounded.

I then spent the next six months working on getting her
back from an over zealous German physics student.
I did everything I could...
I played third wheel, I played the best friend, I crashed parties,
stole her from events, showed up at inconvenient moments.
I was bad and ruthless.
It's rumored I even stole and sold the dudes motorcycle.
“All's Fair in Love and War”

I won.

I can also thank a certain Tucson drinking hole... The "Kon Tiki" (drinks the size of your swimming pool) for helping me spark the "just kiss her effect".

A month after our first date we moved in together.
Six months after that we packed everything and
traveled the western United States for several weeks.
Came back to Phoenix re-built.
Then moved to the Northwest.
After five years we came back.
We have been thru it all.
Near death medical conditions, finances, family issues, the gauntlet of life.

The month of October for me is the month I fell
utterly and hopelessly in love with this lady.

The month starts with her birthday on the fifth and
ends with our anniversary in November.

My favorite month of the year.

I love you.
Happy Birthday!

Saturday Morning.... Beeswax melting...

2009-10-03T07:03:00.000-07:00

Morning!

Prepping for today's class. Mixing some color. Then out the door.
Heading off to that wonderful haunt spot classroom at Mystic Paper.
Class today.
Colored Beeswax & Halloween Silhouettes.
The smell of beeswax is heavy in the house.

Before I head out the door ...
wanted to post yesterdays photo and Art A Day project.

This should be a fun weekend, lots of B-Movies, Halloween crafts,
Oktoberfest, Derby Dames, live music venues.
Plus prepping for Lesley's B-Day on Monday!

So here is the shot from yesterday morning....
I headed over to Tempe Town Lake where they
will be hosting "Oktoberfest Fest" this weekend.
I knew I would find something of interest to photograph.

Its the best.
When you can creep into a place that will be smacked
with hundreds of people in a few short hours.
You can get the shots before the storm kinda thing.
Plus for me its haunting....its ironic.
Its sort of like when you see a playground with no kids.
A candy shop with no warmth.

The best is when you go to Disneyland.. be one of the first thru the gates.
You can beat the crowd... and be the first one at a certain section.

You know that for the rest of the day it won't be as still and as soft.
It will become chaotic, crazy, messy, and worked.
Make sense.

So yesterday... roamed the grounds before the event.
Best light is in the morning and before the sun goes down.
My favorite times.
What I always try to work on is balance.
I'm not a great photographer.
Far from.
Its hard for me to balance a pic... center things.
Take the time for the shot. Its something I'm still learning.
Don't move fast.
Center the image...own the moment to take the shot...
or move just a hair to the left or right.
Meaning most times you will find...
that the difference between a great shot and not so good.
Is if I had just shifted a few inches down, up, or to the side.
Example...
If I had moved to the left just a bit..
I would have avoided those ugly power chords.
Or I would have got the top of someones head, etc...

So yesterday.... working on just centering myself
and looking and trying different angles.

Titled "Yo Yo"
Attached is also yesterday's Art A Day project.
A Halloween collage sheet I made for our email mailing list.
Happy creating.
Talk soon.

First Day of October!

2009-10-01T07:11:00.000-07:00

This mornings "Art A Day" titled "Ghosts"

Morning all!
New music player mix today...
A collection of fifties tunes....

Happy October 1st!

So a quick post.
Then out the door to work on several projects.
I'm back with my "Art A Day" & now "Photo a Day".
It might seem tedious to you.
The reason behind it?
Is because if I don't do it?
I loose it.
Its easy for me to fall off the artistic wagon at times.
Make sense?
Life is busy.
So many things get thrown at ya.
I went several weeks without taking a photo.
Bad.

This morning's "Photo A Day"

Its so easy to sit and waste a few hours watching too many reality shows.

I can do that when my legs don't work anymore.
In my retirement home, or trailer.
Or wherever someone decides to put me.
I can spend hours watching old TV shows
and eating soft foods in my older days.

But I won't always be able to go out and capture life with my camera.
In my retirement trailer I hope to still
have a spark of romance and adventure.
But I might be trapped in my own head by that time.
It runs in the family.
In my bloodline they live long but crazy.
Also good hair.
My three step brothers not so lucky.
They will be sane ... but bald.

October 1st -Railroad Tracks

So anyway... my goal... a photo a day.
Does it need to be great?
No.
It just needs to be me... using my camera.
Learning new tricks... working on settings.... balance, light... etc.
I will also be doing my "Art A Day".
So here is today's photos.
Also my "Art a Day" project.
Took and combined them both.
Enjoy.
I will be back later.
A certain friend sent me something very cool in the mail.
Made my day! Can't wait to share it!

Talk soon.
-Mike