Mail Art using illustrations from Babalon Babes issue four. Michele Witchipoo. Envelope in Madame ZuZu’s mail art show. Highland Park, IL. June 2013.

If you’re in the Highland Park, IL area, the show opens today at Madama ZuZu’s. The exact address is Madame ZuZu’s Teahouse, 582 Roger Williams Ave Highland Park, IL. The show begins June 6th, 2013 at 6pm and runs through June 13th.

Basically I used a copy of a Babalon Babes sketch from 2009, pasted onto the envelope, used glitter watercolor and sealed it with transparent glass beads. You can’t tell from this scan, but it’s a mixed medium piece. The sketch itself is my version of the astrology sign Pisces. Also I still some copies of Babalon Babes issue four available, astrology theme. You can order through PayPal, cost only four dollars. Basically $3.00 plus $1.00 for shipping. You can order through my website: http://witchesbrewpress.com/

I’m going to talk about the 99 cent stores. They’ve been popping around more since 1990. In fact, these stores are nationwide. With the economy in the tanker, they’re not going anywhere anytime soon. They’re just one step up from your local thrift store, only the merchandise is new.

True, most of the stuff sold is mostly useless junk. The other mishap is getting the kind of crap that breaks after using them for two seconds. It’s useful for getting a roll of toilet paper for 69 cents. Sometimes you’ll be surprised what you’ll find.

Upon my discoveries when picking up a nameless brand of kitchen wipes, I stumbled upon these little ditties. And I’m not talking about the bootleg merchandise from China, with all their misspelled words and awkward use of English grammar. Just remember; all you need is just a few bucks plus a twisted sense of humor.

Have a…day.
Plastic drinking cup found at local 99 cents store. Queens, NYC May 2013. Photo by Michele Witchipoo.

Cheap earring pack discovery from a local 99 cents store. Peace. Love. Snowflakes. Bootleg Hello Kitty, SpongeBob and Nazi swastika. May 2013.

The above photo is interesting. Again I went in just to get some paper good. Then I saw this earring pack. Among the designs of peace, love, flowers, snowflakes, bootleg Hello Kitty and SpongeBob was the swastika. Not the original Buddhist or Hindu origin, but the Nazi kind. So I brought this up to the counter and asked the cashier about this. Apparently she had never heard of the word Nazi, nevermind knowing what it means. She asked me to explain what it meant. As I tried to give a brief history lesson, the expression on the woman’s face looked puzzled. Yeah, it was going to get complicated. So I just simply took the yellow post it note she gave me, writing the word down so she could Google it later. A week later in that same store, this earring pack was nowhere to be found.

Fake embroidery anyone? Chintzy cat coaster found in a 99 cents store. May 2013. Photo by Michele Witchipoo.

Now that cats are getting their doggy revenge through the internet, it’s only right that the 99 cent follow suit. Found these in yet another shop in Queens. Amazing what you stumble upon while buying no name cleaning supplies.

Art classes have jumped on the 99 cents bandwagon. Since I’ve gone back, two of my art classes have incorporated the 99 cents theme. One was from my sculpture class. We had to take something from a 99 cents store and twist it to a piece of post-modern art. I was assigned the task of remodeling a pasta strainer. The other class fared much better. In my InDesign course we had to go into a 99 cents store, buy a product with horrible packaging, and rebrand the item with a better look. I chose a box of alphabet shortbread cookies, and replaced it with a neo-retro design. It was okay. Looking back I could’ve eased up on the shadowing. Realize now that only the actual cookie product, which I scanned myself and re-arranged needed shadows but not anything else. Overall I received an A for my InDesign class.

Rebranding of a 99 cents cookie box. Fall 2011. Cartoon and design by Michele Witchipoo.

You would think items brought from a 99 cents store would have a limited shelf life. On the contrary. I’ve had this zebra stripped picture frame for over ten years. The photo cost more to print than to frame. This one is dated from 2000 with my dearly departed black cat Tabitha.

Zebra photo frame. A 99 cents find from over ten years ago. That’s me from 2000 with my cat Tabitha. (She passed away in early 2008). Photo by Michele Witchipoo.

These 99 cents stores are great for low budget holiday decor. Last example of this blog is of another frame found Halloween 2010. In keeping up with the theme of all things witchy. I used this frame to display one of my business cards at the last comic con I did.

BTW…I hope you don’t think my apartment is decorated completely with 99 cent finds. C’mon. I’m not that tacky.

Another photo frame. Witch theme. Photo by Michele Witchipoo.

http://us6.campaign-archive1.com/?u=51e751ef352e602deca0ecdc7&id=460647c85e

Here’s the Kickstarter link:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1345265992/los-angeles-st-davids-day-festival-national-day-of-0

So not only have I not managed to make it to any of the Punk Island shows, I almost didn’t make it to this event. You see, I was exhausted and ready to call it a night. Yet my friend convinced me to go. Plus I had flyers to pick up and promote for the Welcome To My Nightmare show next month. Missed the bands but arrived just in time for the auction.

Rev. Wodka glitter painting. Created Fall 2012 by Michele Witchipoo. Mixed medium, acrylic and glitter. Sold May 2013 at the Punk Island art auction benefit.

I had donated a mixed medium painting created seven months ago titled Rev. Wodka. The acrylic and glitter painting was originally on sale at my Esty site, but I figured it would would be better off at the auction. In theme with all things Punk. So off went Rev. Wodka, who found a new home that night. I also included an old mini issue of my comic Psycho Bunny.

Phil Lentz starting the action at the art auction to benefit Punk Island 2013. Williamsburg, Brooklyn. NYC. May 2013.

There were lots of awesome artists who donated their time and talent to this benefit. There were original signed and numbered concert poster prints by Joe Simko, who did  illustrations for bands like The Misfits and GWAR. Original concert photography was also donated to the cause. The best was saved for last, when Justin Melkmann, comic book artist and member of the band WW9 donated a personal letter from G.G. Allen to the auction.

Here’s a few other photos from that night. Can’t say I know of the exact date of Punk Island itself, but it’s usually free and takes place during the summer on Governor’s Island. Best bet is to do a search for info regarding the exact time date and location for the event.

Art auction/benefit for Punk Island 2013. May 2013 Williamsburg, Brooklyn. NYC.

Actual flyer and letter sent to Justin Melkmann from G.G. Allen, when G.G. was in prison. Donated to the art auction to benefit Punk Island 2013.

Actual letter from G.G. Allen. Donated to the art auction benefit for Punk Island 2013. Photo taken May 2013 in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NYC.

I re-activated my Esty shop again. Not as many items as last time, but more will be added later on.

Banner for Michele Witchipoo’s Esty store. August 2012.

Up for sale. Custom made, one of a kind numbered mixed medium postcards. Featuring my illustrations. Just specify the type of design or illustration you’re looking for. Below are just two examples.

Custom made mixed medium postcards by Michele Witchipoo. These two were created Fall 2012. Available for custom order on Esty. No two are alike. All are signed and numbered on the back.

Custom postcards by Michele Witchipoo. On the back of each custom created card, signed and numbered. No two are alike. Based on Babalon Babe illustrations by Michele Witchipoo.

You can order yours from this site: https://www.etsy.com/listing/111876829/custom-made-art-postcards?ref=shop_home_active

http://artexchangeprogram.wordpress.com/2013/04/17/axp-submission-babalon-babes-and-psycho-bunny-by-michelle-witchipoo/

You can always order your own copies of either the last Psycho Bunny mini issue #3.25 for $3.00 ($2.00 plus $1.00 S&H) or Babalon Babes issue 4, the astrology theme $4.00 ($3.00 + $1.00 for S&H). If ordering one or more issue shipping will be combined. You can order from the website:

http://witchesbrewpress.com/

I also accept PayPal with the email: witchipoo@witchesbrewpress.net. Just specify which issue you would like when ordering.

Starting from April 15 to April 30th, 2013 you can vote in the Inkwell Awards.

http://www.inkwellawards.com/

The Inkwell Awards is a non-profit organization dedicated to the education and promotion of the art of inking. Inking is a much over-looked but crucial element to the comic book process. Everyone is encouraged to vote, whether you’re a fan or professional. The only difference this year is that the public is not allowed to vote in the The Joe Sinnott Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement category. The winners will be announced live at Heroes Con in Charlotte, NC June 7-9 2013. For more information, please click on the above Inkwell Awards link.

My previous post about the Inkwells: http://witchesbrewpress.wordpress.com/2013/02/02/inkwell-awards/

Also please feel free to click on the below link:

http://www.firstcomicsnews.com/?p=71158