(Image by Timothy Shouldice)
It is Monday, and what better way to start a week than to reflect over the course of the last several months and give thanks for the expected and unexpected items that have come my way, via mail and personal delivery. Many apologies to those of you for whom thanks are long overdue.
(Titania’s Playing Make Believe)
Recently I had some mad money that I decided to spend on a visit to Jennifer Gordon’s fantastic Etsy Shop. I certainly did not come away empty handed. I purchased the small, 2.5″ by 3.5″, artist trading cards, mounted on canvas, that you see pictured above and below.
(Boleyn)
Aren’t they both gorgeous? The rich colors and subject matter called out to me in an unmistakable voice and I was compelled to give them a new home. After days of internal debate, I finally settled on hanging them on the bookshelf in my bedroom:
Here’s a more distant picture to give you a better idea of how they look:
Jennifer included this great postcard with a personal note and a copy of her print, I Hold Up My Hand.
Thanks Jennifer for the speedy-quick service! I’m excited about Jennifer Gordon’s involvement in the upcoming R.I.P. IV Challenge (tune in tomorrow).
Several months back this wild, polka-dotted package arrived quite unexpectedly in my mailbox. Inside the envelope was another envelope:
I’m always fascinated by how other countries record their addresses.
And inside that envelope was:
Haruki Murakami!!! A gift from the wonderful Bellezza, whose Japanese Literature Challenge 3 is under way (check out the link on my sidebar). I am so excited to add this treasure to my Murakami collection. She also included this:
Many, many thanks for this surprise, Bellezza. I will cherish it!
My friend Jules, who obviously knows my more bizarre tastes very well, found this oddly twisted plate at a yard sale and just knew that I would enjoy it. She was, of course, correct! Isn’t it just the funnest thing?
I so love this crazed rabbit. It has the initials KF on the plate but no indication of who KF is. If anyone knows who the artist is, I’d be eternally grateful for the information. In the meantime, I look forward to strange meals on this great gift. Thank you so much Jules!
While my wife was in the hospital this past June, Jules made her a number of bookmarks and while doing so she made this one for me. Isn’t it cool?!?! Love it!
Back when I reviewed the J.R.R. Tolkien Audio Collection, Maree, of Just Add Books, discovered that I did not own a copy of the above pictured book. I did have it on my Amazon wishlist, so it was certainly something I wanted to get my hands on. She took it upon herself to procure a copy and send it to me as a gift. It was, and remains, a very sweet thing to do and I am thrilled to have it. I have read a bit of it already and it appears that it is going to be a treasured part of my LOTR collection. Thank you so much Maree for your generosity! I feel so very blessed.
Some time back, before we were living on a more responsible budget, I ordered the Ray Bradbury chapbook, The Shop of the Mechanical Insects from Subterranean Press. A story by Bradbury, illustrated by McKean, was just too good to pass up.
I also ordered this, the latest adventure of James P. Blaylock’s creation, Langdon St. Ives. I have the collected Langdon St. Ives stories from Subterranean Press that came out last year and I am so pleased with these Victorian Steampunk tales that I could not help but get my hands on this volume. It is a lovely, autographed book, filled with fantastical illustrations by J.K. Potter, like the endpaper image pictured below:
Jenn See’s mom, Cynthia, sent me an email several months ago indicating that something was coming my way. Her email gave the impression that whatever it was, it was an item that she saw that made her think of me. I can certainly see why:
This funny, somewhat eerie version of Mr. Spock, is the creation of Max Gyllenhaal. A Zortz, as these are called, are miniature puppet note holders, created while Gyllenhaal was on a work study program for Henson and Associates.
A card enclosed in the package says:
“Squeeze my clothespin…and I will open my mouth to hold your notes, keys, pens, toothbrush, etc. I am handmade in Brooklyn, New York from latex rubber. Each Zortz stands alone in this age of mass production to speak in the tongue of uniqueness with the accents and mannerisms of you, the individual.”
Needless to say I laughed hysterically when I opened this and have had a great deal of fun creeping out friends and family with Mr. Spock.
Thank you so much Cynthia for such a ‘perfect for me’ gift! I cannot but look at Mr. Spock and smile!
This past Friday another unexpected package showed up in my mailbox, this time from Deslily. Knowing my affection for Frank Frazetta, she graciously sent me this wonderful 2 disc documentary, Painting With Fire. What Pat did not know was that I already owned a copy of this, so I contacted her about it and she agreed to let me give it away in a manner of my choosing. Stay alert, some day soon this incredible documentary (and believe me, it is so worth owning) could be yours.
Pat, you are such a dear, dear friend. Thank you so much for thinking of me and for sending this wonderful gift.
On a related note, a fellow blogger sent me an email the other day informing me that Frank Frazetta’s wife, Ellie, had passed away earlier this summer. I was especially saddened by this because, having watched this documentary on more than one occasion, I know that Ellie held Frank together. She was instrumental in making sure he not only held on to his work but also didn’t tinker too much with finished paintings, something Frank is known to do. She was a major part in the foundation of the museum honoring Frank’s work and would often give tours of the museum personally. I extend my deepest condolences to the Frazetta family for their loss.
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Amy of My Friend Amy and a small army of volunteers came together last year to create the Book Blogger Appreciation Week. Known as the book blogging Oscars, this annual event gives bloggers a chance to nominate blogs in a variety of categories. This year’s awards week is September 14th through 18th.
I am honored and humbled to have been nominated for:
Best Special Interest Blog
Best Speculative Fiction Blog (i.e. Fantasy/Horror/Sci-Fi/Spec-Fic)
Most Extravagant Giveaways
Best Writing
Best Challenge Host
Best Blog Name
Best Community Builder
Most Altruistic Blog
Best Challenge (for the R.I.P. Challenge)
Truly honored, and truly humbled. More than anything else I feel this way because I know the company I am in and can think of bloggers in each category that I would hold up as award winners. Although it seems trite by today’s standards, I genuinely feel that it has been an honor to simply be nominated, regardless of whether or not I make the shortlist in these categories or indeed win.
During the BBAW I will be participating in an interview swap. I won’t spoil the surprise by revealing my interviewee just yet. Besides, they might run for the hills if they know I am coming!
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Artist Brandi Milne emailed me the other day, asking that I mention the recently-announced sale of her hand-crafted, hand-painted, limited edition Humpty Dumpty plushes. As she is a complete dear and I love her work, I am happy to oblige! Be sure to check out her other items and her gallery and blog while you are over there.
Well that is all for this Monday, dear ones. Tune in tomorrow for the ‘I can’t believe its already here’ official announcement for R.I.P. IV!
Such a pleasurable post that I savoured it just as much!
Mondays: What’s up?
What a wonderful and eclectic mix of possessions! I love the plate.
I am so excited for R.I.P IV!
Well, no matter how much of your “stuff” you are selling off it looks as if you will never really be making any extra room at your home lol !
Oh boy.. I am almost ready for RIP! Almost.. because I just received my Nicholas Meyer book and began reading it yesterday.. and it just won’t fit for RIP lol. but otherwise, I am ready for a change in my reading and RIP will do the trick! (I just hope mr linky works this time!)
Such nice gifts! tanabata was kind enough to send me a copy of Hear the Wind Sing a while ago, so I’ll also be reading it for the Japanese Lit challenge. Dork that I am, I was ridiculously excited that it was a bilingual edition 😀
And wow, look at all those nominations! Congratulations!!
I love seeing all your fabulous gifts. Those ATC cards look gorgeous. I am intrigued by The Ebb Tide, the cover looks fabulous and it sounds like a brilliant book.
Well done on being nominated for so many awards, you deserve it.
From one LOTR geek to another, you’re very welcome 🙂
And congrats on the nominations *nom nom nom* 😀
Maree: Thanks again! I do so love that book. Maybe someday I’ll be able to actually visit those locations myself. That would be a dream come true! And thank you for the hearty congratulations.
Vivienne: I have enjoyed everything of James P. Blaylock that I have read, most especially the short stories and novels that comprise the adventures of Langdon St. Ives. I highly recommend them. And thank you. I am no more deserving than all the other dedicated bloggers out there but I do appreciate the nominations.
Nymeth: Nothing dorky about that at all. And thanks.
Deslily: I am ready for it as well, although I am in a similar situation in that I have just started an ARC for a fantasy book that I am enjoying and will definitely be finishing it before I start my R.I.P. reading in earnest. That being said, I have already finished a book that I’ll be reviewing for R.I.P. if not actually counting it as one of my reads. And yes, as fast as things are going out the door, things are coming in, but at least this time very little of what is coming in is because I am spending money on it…and none of it is coming in on credit cards, which is wonderful!!!
Claire: Isn’t that plate oddly fun? I really do hope to discover the artist.
Gautami: Thank you! I’m off to visit your link.
Congrats on all the nominations Carl, very well deserved!
It’s Christmas in August for you, Carl! I, too, love the way that countries write their addresses. I’m glad that sending you the original package from Japan thrilled you as much as it did me.
I’m looking forward to your interivew, and voting for BBAW this September 7th!
What an eclectic assortment! Congratulations on your nominations–they are all truly deserved. Good luck!
ds: one thing you’ll definitely get with me is eclectic. 🙂 And thanks for the well wishes.
Bellezza: I am so glad you sent it that way. It was so much fun to see all the packaging, etc. Plus it made the ‘what is it?’ suspense last just that much longer.
Bride: Thank you so much! 🙂
You have such a remarkable art collection, and I love the way you’ve displayed those two ATCs! They sent me straight to Jennifer’s Etsy shop to poke around a bit.
Congratulations, too, on all your BBAW nominations, and good luck!
Memory: I would definitely encourage you to buy from Jennifer, but you might want to hold on to see what kind of specials she’ll be running during the R.I.P. IV Challenge, announcement tomorrow, as she is a sponsor and we are planning some fun tie-ins.
that plate is the coolest thing I have seen in so very long, also huge thank you for the shout out. I love what you did with those ACEOS you got from me.
I love the book you sent to me as well, you are a darling.
congrats on the many nominations you are basically like the male version of Meryl Streep of the blog world.
What a happy, thoughtful, sweet post, and you are so loved by all, I hope those nominations show you that! All of it so deserved, Carl.
I personally laughed at Mr Spock AND that you have the Enterprise on your computer desktop!! And that you have bookshelves in your bedroom, which I am still trying to convince my husband is a normal decorating feature for bedrooms!!! lol
RiP 4, I can hardly wait! yippee!!
Susan: I love everyone back! I feel so grateful for these friendships.
I actually purposefully went and loaded that image up behind Mr. Spock for the picture, but up until very recently I did have a desktop wallpaper of the newest Star Trek movie. 🙂 Such a geek!
We had this really useless nook by our bedroom door and I saw something in a Better Homes and Gardens magazine that inspired me to design, and my dad and I to build, those shelves. It looks like it was meant to be there all along. And how could one NOT have bookshelves in the bedroom? 🙂
I couldn’t wait for RIP IV either, so I just posted about it today instead of waiting until tomorrow!
Jennifer: Please, I’m not worthy to lick Meryl Streep’s Julia Child wig! I love being nominated, as we all do, and just hope years and years don’t go by where I end up being the Susan Lucci of the book blogging community. LOL!
I’m glad you approve. They look so great there, and I see them several times a day that way.
Glad you are enjoying the book. Isn’t it wonderful? The creative minds behind that really did a wonderful job!
If you head down my way, I’ll take you to Queenstown myself 🙂
What great gifts! I am loving Jennifer Gordon’s artwork. Oh and thank you so much about the comment on my new header picture on my blog. That made my day. Thanks! I am still trying to figure out how to get nice big pictures like on your blog but I will figure it out someday. 🙂
You’re very welcome, Amanda.
Maree: I’m there!!! 🙂
What they said 😉 Eclecticism rocks, and nominations are way cool, and there’s nothing in the world more fun than showing off stuff! I only found out about art trading cards two or three months ago. Maybe I could somehow recycle my used sandpaper.
I do have a question. Your reference to Victorian steampunk caught me – this is only the second time I’ve seen the phrase, but the first time it intrigued me enough to go searching through links. I read a bit about it, but ended with no better idea of what it is. I haven’t a clue whether it’s a movement, like Arts and Crafts, or a literary genre, or what. Do you have any links or books or pages to recommend to help me wrap my poor, befuddled brain around this?
My favorite of them all is the plate. I’ve put it into my “resarch” file 😉
My definition of Victorian steampunk is work that showcases the usual trappings of steampunk set in the Victorian era. It combines the romanticism of the Victorian period and steam-powered (usually, but not always) inventions that would not have been in existence in the time period, giving it the science fiction elements. It seems to be the most popular kind anyway. It is a genre, or subgenre of speculative fiction and it is also certainly an arts and crafts movement. One of the best places to point you which would lead to examples of the crafts that are steampunk inspired is here:
http://totusmelswunderkammer.blogspot.com/
Come to think of it, it probably is in some ways a movement. There are certainly steampunk films, or films with steampunk elements. One of the ones I recommend is City of Lost Children. It is a subtitled French film, a very good one. As for books, The Adventures of Langdon St. Ives, starting with his novel, Homunculus, is a great place to begin. The upcoming Leviathan by Scott Westerfield and Boneshaker by Cherie Priest would also be ones I would recommend just because I’ve heard really good things thus far.
Wikipedia is a good place to actually get more links, read more about its history, etc. If I think of any more I’ll let you know.
What I love about it is that it combines some of my favorite time periods, the Victorian era, turn of the century London, with the most fantastical Jules Verne-esque machines to make science fiction that is steeped in alternative history, romance, mystery…it is just a fascination subgenre. Well worth spending some time with.
Glad you featured “my gift” but all of your gifts are a tribute to you. See how many lives you just keep touching, you are one special person. hugs!
Oh dear, oh dear ~ I have been exploring and discovering all manner of delights, including a modified LCD screen at the Steampunk Workshop that fairly screamed, “You must have me!” If you haven’t seen it, you just have to go look. The pics of the finished project begin about 2/3 of the way down the page.
This isn’t in my budget or my ability to produce, but if it was sitting on my desk I’d be smiling all the time! http://steampunkworkshop.com/lcd.shtml
I looked through the Wiki on Steampunk, but spent even more time reading reviews of the assorted Langdon St. Ives books. I just haven’t been able to get excited about “hard” science fiction or the horror/gothic/vampire genres, but there’s something quite appealing about all this. I love and have been lucky enough to obtain a few Victorian fairy lamps, and enjoy all things arts and crafts, so I think I shall have to give this Steampunk literature a go!
By the way, I found a quotation in my files the other day I think you’d appreciate. It’s from William Morris, who said, “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” Isn’t that wonderful? And when beauty and usefulness are combined in the same object – pure heaven!
I hadn’t seen that LCD, but I want one as well. I have seen various versions of steampunk keyboards and I have to say that I really, really want one of those!!! I’ve done a few case modifications on computers before, but never anything that ambitious. Maybe someday!!!
It is very easy to spend hours and hours getting lost in steampunk stuff on the web. Etsy alone can take up hours!
I’ve read a few hard sci fi books that I’ve really enjoyed, but I don’t go out of my way to read them. I much prefer a rollicking good story. What I like about the steampunk that I’ve read is that there is generally more of a mystery element to it, and I really enjoy that.
That quote is wonderful. I’m going to save that. I couldn’t agree more, and that is certainly the direction that we are heading with our cleaning.
KF is http://www.kristenferrell.com/