Guess What?

I moved. :)

New updates coming soon!

Moving to a New State: A Handy Checklist

Look What They've Done to my Blog, Ma

Well. It has been a long time since I last posted and longer still since I posted new art and such. Even then, my last post came off a bit more dour than I intended (though that was my mood at the time).

I'm still not ready to reveal what is going on in my life yet but I guess I should point out that it's really really good and exciting stuff, stuff that is going to change my life 100%. However, huge life changes bring a lot of stress and that stress can be overwhelming sometimes.

So what does this mean for you, person who is reading this blog? Well it means that things will continue to be sporadic for the next few weeks. It also means that for the time being the Accidentally Awesome Etsy shop has been put on hiatus (mostly because my art room is currently being used as a staging area). 

But it also means that sometime in October this blog is going to, before it goes back to art and comics and stuff, become an adventure-logue that hopefully will be fun, funny, and exciting for me to write and for you all to read about.

Why am I playing this so close to the vest? Well I have a specific way I want to do things and announcing to the world ahead of time what my plans are would go directly against that. It's similar to another fantasy I have wherein if I ever get pregnant I think it would be funny to not tell anyone till the baby arrives and then be all casual like "oh, this ol' thing, yeah no big deal". I don't know why, but that amuses me greatly. So it's kind of like that (I am a crank).\

I hope to have my Etsy shop back up and running by early November. If you want some origami ornaments before then or have any other questions about the shop you can still see stuff for sale on the Facebook page and also feel free to email me at misstwosense@gmail.com.

Thanks for the patience and I hope everyone out there reading this is 1/24000 as excited as I am because that would still be pretty darn excited.

Also, I've finished MASH and am halfway through The Gilmore Girls so I have to start writing about TV again soon because otherwise my husband will divorce me. ;)

-H

S'update

Hey everyone. I'm dealing with some personal issues right now. You may have noticed that they have prevented me from posting anything lately. For the time being my posting may continue to be very sporadic.

It's important for me to mention that I started this blog during a huge time of flux in my life. For a lot of reasons, I've used it  to stay occupied while stressful and difficult things have been happening to me and my family.

The truth is, it's going to get worse before it gets better. But the harder it gets the closer I will be to a place where I can devote more time to this blog (more than before even) and have new experiences to share with everyone.

I can't be any more specific than that for the time being. All I'm asking for is patience.

-H.N.


-P.S. I'm leaving my Etsy store active so feel free to make a purchase there or to continue to request special orders. Also, I haven't had anything on Ebay in a while but that will probably be changing soon as I have a HUGE amount of stuff I HAVE to get rid of now, regardless of cost. I will update when I post things there.

Romance

Tbt #27: Amelia

Welcome to today's throwback-Thursday (now 100% more accurately titled!). Even though I drew this redraw weeks ago, it's prescient that today I present to y'all this hard working woman. Currently my husband (Jeff) is doing some hard working for the next two weeks straight at his factory job here in the middle of August, eight and twelve hour shifts. Hard workers are clearly on my mind right now.

Ashes in the Wind: How I Lost Followers This Week

Social media can be scary and challenging but most of all, it can be baffling. What actually can compel someone to click through to unfollow someone on facebook, twitter, or tumblr when I can barely muster the energy to click "like" on stuff?

VLog

Movie Recommendations for the People

Welcome to recommendations!

I will be posting these quick and informal viewing recs on Mondays but I want to get this one out quick before tonight in case anyone is wondering what to watch and needs advice. Also, buying or going to the movies is expensive so these movies can be found in some combination of Netflix or Amazon rentals/prime.

Anyway, when I watch movies I tend to watch them in sporadic clusters so here are several things I watched last weekend (as these are recommendations and not reviews, these are all spoiler-free):

Housebound (2014): This horror/comedy is available on Netflix. Don't be thrown of by the Texas Chainsaw Massacre-esque cover; hailing from New Zealand, I found this movie to be hilarious and also really scary (though your mmv with that). Best of all it has a lot of twist and turns, and the gore is kept on the funnier and minimal side of things.

Featuring a haunted house and delinquent daughter, come for the clever dialogue but stay for the delightful accents in which it's delivered in.

Highlights: Female driven, funny, solidly creepy, great horror comedy

It Follows (2014): Another horror film, this was is serious and also seriously scary. The central premise, basically a sexually transmitted haunting, has some really creepy rules that govern it that I found truly terrifying. My enjoyment was tempered by the fact that the ending I felt was a bit of a let down and the, while I read some things criticizing the central idea s misogynistic, I felt the most misogynistic thing about the movie was the disgusting whiny nice guy garbage boy played by Keir Gilchrist. Regardless, it is still Worth watching. It can be rented on Amazon.

Highlights: Seriously scary, unsettling out of time setting, interesting music, good atmosphere.

Lowlights: Some poor character choices, not sex positive (duh).

Soap Dish (1991): Silly little movie bout Soap Operas that feels unbelievably dated. Between the subject matter and how young everyone looks in this movie I really got an 80s vibe from it. That being said though it's good fluffy entertainment. It won't change your life but you can fold laundry while it's on. Available on Netlflix.

Highlights: FULL of celebrities looking very young. Whoopi Goldberg has amazing hair in it. Cathy Moriarty's voice gives me pants feelings. These amazing asymmetrical fruit earrings:

Kathy Najimi

Life Partners (2014): Starring the adorable Gillian Jacobs (Oh Gilly!) and Leighton Meester this very very light comedy about two friends entering a new stage in their friendship and lives is perfectly fine viewing. The conflict is low stakes but the clothes are great and everyone in it is unrealistically pretty. It's not a good movie but it's completely non-offensive. Available on Netflix.

Tig (2015): If you know Tig Notaro's story then you might be interested in this documentary about her. Not all of it worked for me. Her story is moving but the pace moved more quickly than I would've liked. Also, I feel like she has such an interesting personality that I would have liked to learn more about her and more about how she has changed since dealing with all her traumas. It is worth watching though- it certainly provoked a lot of thinking in me about a lot of different topics touched on in the doc. Available on Netflix.

Sassy talking points: I wonder how a less affluent person would have been able to deal with all the horrors that happened in Tig's life in such a short amount of time? Can a self-proclaimed straight girl be turned lesbian/bi by anyone, or does it mostly help to be famous? (I love Tig and her comedy but, like I said, this movie did provoke a lot of thoughts in me).

Bonus: I didn't watch The Guest (2014) last weekend but I watched it a while back and it's now on Netflix. It's a low gore/high tension thriller style horror film that I would def. recommend. Dan Stevens minus his accent is very, very attractive in this movie and Maika Monroe (also the lead in It Follows) has found a great niche for herself with her natural portrayals of young adults. Really notable though is this movie's amazing 80s flavored soundtrack that enhances every scene and really complements the action and atmosphere.

So there are my recommendations. From the list three things can be learned about me (for possible future reference). One, I love horror but I have aged out of the slasher/torture porn/gratuitous gore genres. I prefer a little thought and care with my horror these days. Two, I prefer movies that have a strong female presence in them. And finally, I am a comedy nerd. That makes my three major categories I am going to recommend in horror, sci-fi, and comedy. Woo hoo!

Happy Murder Fun Misogny Hour: Criminal Minds Review Part II

So in my last offering you met the characters and cast of the seminal television series Criminal Minds. Today let me walk you children in nature as I break down a few of my "favorite" episodes, in no particular order other than best to worst.

A preliminary word on the violence in CM. Both this show and Hannibal have in the past made me look away from the television in disgust, but I've always felt like on Hannibal that the people behind that show were at least trying to do something, right? Make the events occurring beautiful to look at, add some artistry into things. Something. Not so on Criminal Minds. The camera work, set design, and casting are all basic and do nothing for the gore to make it ascend past just merely being gross and unpleasant. Because of this, and it general awfulness, if you are sensitive don't watch this show and maybe don't even read these synopses. 

So here now are a smattering of episodes that I can actually remember.

Hug A Union Today

My husband is about to work a "shut down", which is a term his factory uses to describe him working every day, 8-12 hours straight for two weeks+.

As such I am not posting again till probably Saturday so that I can spend time with him before we all go insane for two weeks.

I thank you for your patience.

Tbt #26: Jelaut

This character is the embodiment of amusement and merriment. The original is kind of a fun harlequin, but for the redraw I went straight clownin'. I think she manages to be cute and not fall into the tiresome trap of “uh oh, as an adult all clowns must now be creepy and scary ”. I hate that shit.

Saxuality

Happy Murder Fun Misogyny Hour: Criminal Minds Reviewed

Do you ever wonder about the shows that are really popular on TV that you (hopefully) don't watch? Sure, it's easy to visit websites like the The A.V. Club and come away with a very specific idea of what is popular and what isn't when the truth is that the majority of network TV watchers aren't watching Adventure Time or Mad Men or even The Walking Dead. So what are our parents and grandparents and people in coma wards actually watching every evening when they sit down to some prime time TV?

Suzanne Warren

Hand drawn with sharpie, color added digitally. Flowers created digitally. 

Want season 4 of Orange is the New Black to be better? Give Uzo Aduba more to do- she's an amazing actress and I want to see more of her character!

And Now a Word From Our Sponsor . . .

I like to think that, even if it takes me a long time, I always eventually get around to doing things that need to be done. Spiffing up this blog page has been one of the things on my to-do list for a long time

Hopefully it looks a bit more engaging now. I streamlined a bunch of stuff, removed and overrided some ugly code, and added some color, which I am of course all about.

Erica

Psych!

Tbt #25: Hebe

Hebe is another goddess from Greek mythology, specifically the goddess of youth. Her story sucks. As the goddess of youth she was expected to do a bunch of menial tasks, like drawing baths and helping other gods into their chariots. She is also the person who served the drinks, which is why she is depicted with a cup usually.

Samantha

Battle of The Embarrassing 80s Music Videos

Pete Burns from Dead or Alive. So pretty, mmm.

When I was a kid I'd sometimes go hang out with my artist Dad in whatever studio space¹ he was using at the time. One of the things that registered so powerfully about all these spaces was the fact that he knew just what he needed to make them comfortable and inviting. I too have a need for such a space these days so my art space is pretty, bright, and filled with things I love. One of those things I love to fill it with is music, much as he did as well.

I'm not very tech savvy when it comes to music or, I should say, that I don't really give a shit about music related tech. I listen to CDs. I watch YouTube videos. I move on with my life. BUT. I recently discovered the YouTube playlist making feature and hoo-boy has that taken me back to a time in my life when I was MUCH more interested in the care and keeping of a musical collection.

For my first foray into the magic of mix making I decided to recreate a kick-ass mix I made as a teen with a dial-up connection and a Limewire account. It's an 80s mix of the fun shit from the 80s (sorry Morrissey!). The one hit wonders, the pop classics, the era defining fluff. No cock rock and no hair bands, which I hate like poison².

One of the things I didn't realize though is that since the playlist is videos that meant that I would be seeing a bunch of music videos I had never seen before. Having watched many of them I can now definitively say that music videos in the 80s were bananas.

Tbt #24: Semira

Since I might have some new eyeballs today from Deviantart or Twitter, let me begin today's entry by refreshing everyone on what the hell it is exactly that I'm doing here.

I'm on Twitter!

You can now follow me on twitter @misstwosense.

Check out my new twit banner here.

Perhaps I haven't mentioned this at length before but I am an insomniac who keeps very irregular hours so it should be interesting to see what pithy comments I can come up with at 4 a.m.

Also, side note: My deviantart gallery has been updated. From now on the ONLY place to see the TBT "before" drawings is here on this blog.

Tbt #23: Poppy

Ba-na-na-na-na-na-na-na, ba-na-na-na-na-na-na-na CAF-TAN!

Unsolicited Opinions

I Command Thee: Watch This TV

Welcome back to Tasteful Nerdity! This is part three of shows that I've watched and maybe you should too.

1. Roseanne

Is Roseanne the real person kind of batshit crazy? Yes. Does that mean you shouldn't watch this show? No. This is quintessential 90s millennial-generation viewing. It's a show that, for me, has been something that my perspective on has changed over time..

When I was a kid I identified with Darlene and her experiences feeling like an outsider. As an adult I identify with Jackie a bit more- kind of being a little kooky and falling into things and learning to just roll with it. Also, Dan. DAN. Some people say that a woman want to find a man who's just like her father. I always just wanted to marry a man like Dan Connor. AND I DID. #lifegoals

Episodes to watch: The Halloween episodes were always my favorite as a kid. And adult. Just pure sitcom joy.

Episodes to avoid: Do not watch the last season. I am a completionist so please know, I don't give that advice lightly. It is so bad you guys. So bad. "Ruins everything that came before it" bad.

I'm sensitive, should I watch this show?: What I always liked about this show was that it always felt so authentic. It was very similar to my own family at that time for one thing- we even had afghans on our couches and a plastic Godzilla of our own. So for me, while the show does touch on some serious issues, I would say it never feels maudlin or forced because it is so based in reality. So it's safe for the sensitive (except maybe that last season- you've been warned!).

Granny

Since I didn't publish my own comic last Sunday, I thought I'd make up for it with one of my favorites from around the web.

Check out his other comics here.

Tbt #22: Carrie-Ann

When I was a kid my Dad rented Poltergeist (1982) on VHS for my family to watch together on a movie night. (Side note: remember the middle class? It was great.) This had three long term effects on my family. 

Tbt #21: Nairopeti

My second super conceptual drawing, Nairopeti is the physical embodiment of water. When I was conceiving of her redraw I had a similar problem as I had with Sartep. The original drawing on the left, which is at least 12 years old, is cute and fun. But my thoughts about water when sitting down to draw the new version were not.

Updatels

First off, happy 4th of July to my fellow Americans! Usually I remain submerged in water for the entirety of this holiday, only popping a hand out to occasionally receive a fresh beer. Sadly, due to scheduling, that won't be happening for the first time in many years but regardless I hope everyone else has a safe and fun time.

Project updates:

Tbt #20: Vega

Hey, did you know that braids are hard to draw? I didn't until I started this drawing!

For this redraw I tried three different things I had never tried before. One is to make a more realistic looking braid. I think it turned out . . . ok. The second attempt was also in the beginning drawing stage where I tried this pose here. On my first draft her neck appeared to attach to her body somewhere around her right elbow. Upsetting! I scooted it over more and basically had to completely draw it over the arms and then erase it later to see if the pose worked. I turned out . . . ok. I don't think it's too rubbery.

TBT #19: Allison

Allison here is going to be an excuse to explain what I have been up to lately. Namely, that I was scrambling all day yesterday to get one stinkin' drawing done to put up today. I think she turned out just lovely, I am so pleased with this drawing. But, I am growing increasingly frustrated by the amount of time I am spending organizing my business rather than working on art.

The Sniper

Tbt #18: Ageen

Lizard people unite! Ageen is the fashion representation of all things reptile. The original has a kindergarten-play type vibe because she's holding up her own wings.

Review: Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)

                                                

Warning from the start: Posts tagged "review" like this one will always contain major spoilers! 

Welcome to the first Tasteful Nerdity review. Of course, me being me, I said I was going to focus on mostly television so here I am discussing a movie. Yet I felt compelled, almost without being able to control myself, to discuss this movie. Invasion of the Body Snatchers is a movie from the seventies. Even if you haven't seen it, some of you might at least be familiar with it because of the popular gif and image taken from one of its scenes:

Tbt #17: Esperanza

Va-va-voom! You'd never know from the original but this character was actually a Grandmother within the universe the characters lived in. A very . . . sexy . . . grandma. Not that I think there is anything wrong with that. It's just that I now realize that to be sexy one doesn't have to look twenty, especially if they are really seventy.

Viewpoints

Wingin' It

Who's ready to get SHREDDED? Well you are if you are reading this post because I really did a number on this doll house today. Shredded is an appropriate word: there are bits and scraps of cardboard and old glue all over my project room right now.

Last weekend I went out and bought two things for the project. One is a large piece of press board that's is about 3'x5',  and the other is a little tub of wood putty (more on that in a moment).

I set out to dig in and really see what, structurally, this hunk of garbage needs to become whole again. I decided to remove the roof and the third floor walls because nothing was aligned correctly.

Using a dull and semi-broken box cutter (cause that's how I roll), I cut through the old wood glue and then pulled each piece off.

This did not go so well.

The first piece that ate it was one of the sides but I don't care about that because, hey, the sides aren't supposed to be the pieces that have doors in them anyway. Ahem. However, the second piece that broke was the main white front piece, and it didn't just break it tore, like peeling bark off a tree.

So here were my goals at this point: fix the front that got damaged and put back on walls that actually would fit correctly. First I decided to fix the front. I'm using Gorilla brand wood glue for this. I slapped it back up there and put some binder clips on it to hold it in place.

Here is a post gluing pick:

I'm not delicate, y'all. And I don't like using paintbrushes for glue because I always forget to wash them and they get ruined. So fingers it is to smooth the glue out.

This was step was holding pretty well so I moved on to the next step. Are any of the other pieces  removed still usable? Well, yes. The fronts piece, I figured out, was simply put on wrong. When I need it back up with the outer edge it left a gap between it and the white wall. Like so:

But when I placed the load bearing wall back up, it all fit together nicely:

Or not. I decided to just smoosh it all together and hope for the best. I imagine that the window part is actually supposed to be angled back in regards to the tower part but . . . I am just going to address that later. For now I decided to just make it smooth across using glue for the left side and middle piece and nails and glue for the right side fronts-piece.

To make it all smooth I whipped out my wood putty to spackle that shit into place. Now look . . . I am not a handywoman by any means (perhaps you have guessed that already). I learn as I go generally speaking. So today I learned about wood putty. Here is the brand I used:

And here is what I learned:

It's faaaaaaaab-u-louuuuuuuussssssss! Pretty pretty pretty pretty pretty! Purple wood putty- I love it. I had no idea it was going to look like that until I opened it. I just grabbed it at the store and didn't bother to read the label (again, I'm just wingin' it here, people).

So I puttied it up all good and added some fail safes to keep it in place while drying.

That's right, some sweet, sweet duct tape. As you can see in the first of those two pics the front of the third floor of the house is now semi-smoothly lined up. It isn't perfect due to old glue bumps and such but I think it looks better and best of all the edges are now all flush.

When I put the roof back on to test it, the original board now fits perfectly. Very satisfying.

Don't worry, it's not attached yet. That's due to the fact that I have to find a way to cut the board I bought into new pieces to replace the side pieces.

In addition to that as the next step I need to figure out a way to cut off a few parts of jutting press board that are attached to the house itself and can't be pried off. That should be fun- break out the power tools!