Love Letter to Staple!

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I'm back! After jetting to Austin for the weekend, and then high-tailing it out of there right before SXSW starts, I'm back home and ready to resume my Clark Kent life. I've got a bunch of things to post as well as the result of my 30-for-3o-ness, but first, here are some of the sketch commissions I did at the show: (Sorry for the crappy quality, I took these with my iPhone. Why did I bring my nice camera along but forget its battery? Because I'm a genius)

First up: Jubilee!

Next was a sketch for a sweet guy who just wanted "something romantic" featuring him & his girlfriend ...

And finally, a Lady Cop ... I wasn't sure if they wanted a super-sexy cop or what, so I just drew her kind of tongue-in-cheek:

And then got around to inking her, too!

I also did a sketch of Ed from Shaun of the Dead but forgot to take a picture of it. Boo. To make up for it, we watched the movie on the plane ride home. :) But this is just one of the many many reasons why I heart Staple - besides the fact that everyone in Austin is adorable and nice, they want me to do sketches for them, to boot!

30-for-30: Day 29

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Ohmigosh I'm way too tired to re-enact my Sunday outfit and post it, so y'all will just have to wait until I get back from Austin this weekend to see 30-for-30: The Startling Conclusion!! (not exactly startling, but dramatic nonetheless that I finished!) I have to say I'll miss it. It's been such a fun challenge, and so amazing to see so many cool chicks out there participating. *sniff* What'll I do now??

And don't forget, if you're in Austin this weekend, stop by Staple and come say hello! I'll be at table #30 in the Hall. Misty-eyed and dreaming of my next 30-for-30 ... and confused about what to do with all the unworn clothes in my closet ...

Shirts - H&M, scarf - Azura, pants - Express, shoes - Nicole, belt - Doubledutch Boutique

30-for-30: Day 27

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This is actually a re-enactment of what I wore on Sunday, since I was lazy and didn't take any pictures. Since I'm behind, I'm re-enacting so I can finish my 30! Tomorrow I'll post what I wore on Saturday as well as Thursday. Confused yet?

sweater - Target, shirt - H&M, belt - Express, skirt - Target, socks - Sock Dreams, scarf - Rikka

30-for-30: Day 26

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This outfit made me feel all cozy and warm to the random blustery winds that pummeled me on my walk in to work. Way to go, soft cardigan and scarf! This outfit might as well be a pillow and blanket. Or maybe I thought it was so comfortable because I only got 4 hours of sleep last night and I could fall asleep at any moment. Either/or.

Scarf - Rikka, cardigan - H&M, pants - Express, shoes - Nicole, belt - Doubledutch Boutique

Horror Heroine Portraits

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You know, they just never get any credit. I have to say I'm kind of obsessed with creepy, slow moving horror movies from the 1970s and 1980s, especially a few in particular. So as part of my project to delve into scenes from movies I love, I wanted to do some portraits of heroines from some of my all-time favorite horror movies. Here are the sketches, and I'll post the colored, finished versions soon ... The wonderful Wendy from The Shining.

 

Joanna, the dutiful (but not dutiful enough) wife from The Stepford Wives.

More to come! Finished versions will be for sale at Staple! next weekend!

Convention Season!

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Start your engines! And by engines, I mean staplers and paper-cutters. Next week kicks off my comic convention season for 2011 - woo! It begins with Staple! a super cool, independent comic show in Austin, Texas that I'm super thrilled about attending for the 3rd time. The rooms are lofty, the creators friendly, and the work for sale is amazing. One of the things that's fun about going to different shows in different parts of the country is the trends you notice -- in Austin, I sell more prints and original art than anywhere else. In Portland and New York, they were into my series about a female assassin. And in Toronto and back here in Maryland, autobio was tops.

So if any of you are curious about how I prepare, one of the things I spend hours doing is making my comic books! Here's the typical process I go through: (here I'm using my book Lipstick & Malice #2 as an example)

First, I print out all of my pages (apparently on a very dusty Canon printer ...)

They're all double-sided and black and white.

Next, I put them all together in order, and fold them over, careful to line up the paper on the ends as best as I can.

I also do this to the cover (the insides are printed on regular weight paper, the covers are on cardstock) ....

Next, I unfold both the cover and the inside pages and place the cover on top of the pages.

Then I take them over to my fancy shmancy long neck stapler, and put 2 staples into the spine.

Lastly, I trim off the white paper around the edges of the book.

And voila! A comic book, ready and eager to be sold and read!

This year I'll be debuting my 3rd Bonnie N. Collide, Nine to Five comic, as well as a special mini-issue of Bonnie, featuring all art done by the magnificent Tim Fish. If you're in Austin, stop by table #30 in the Hall and say hi! Otherwise, the books will be up and available in my store when I get back. Also, I might be debuting a few prints for the show ... more on that later!

30-for-30: Day 24

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I got my roots done yesterday, and everytime I do I'm inspired to part my hair down the middle. I guess because it's my one chance to show off not having roots and pretending this yellowy-gold is my natural hair color. Usually within two days my hair starts to grow back and then that lovely line is ruined!

 

So ... my hair is something I used to change quite frequently (as evidenced here). But I've stayed blonde for the past few years now, since it's relatively easy and I haven't gotten sick of it yet. BUT ... now I think it's time for a change, and I'm inspired by this color:

 

Hot, right? Of course, it helps that she's gorgeous and wearing red lipstick. I chatted with my hairdresser a bit about this color yesterday, and he said it might end up taking more work every month, which means more money. He took a test strand and is figuring out what it will take in his secret underground hair chemistry lab. As much as I love changing my hair color and love imagining myself looking like this hot chick, I'm not sure I can spend more than I already do on my appearance. I should probably be spending less - whoops. (No, I won't tell you how much I spend on lipstick each month)

sweater - Express, belt - Doubledutch boutique, skirt - Target, tights - American Apparel, socks - Target, boots - Hive & Honey

 

30-for-30: Day 23!

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I should really avoid all end-of-the-day photos, since I end up looking droopy and like I spent all day fumbling around in a dryer. But I have to say, even though this outfit was definitely oddly put together, all day I loved it. Mainly because it gave me a chance to finally wear this amazing scarf my friend Matt bought for me at Crafty Bastards one year .... just look at what's hidden on the other side of it!

That definitely brightened my day. And, I think, the others who I let in on my secret.

Cardigan - Target, belt & skirt - Express, black shirt - H&M, knee highs - Sock Dreams, shoes - Franco Sarto

30-for-30: Day 22

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Confession time! Even though it's Feb. 23rd, I spent all yesterday in my PJ's and workout clothes. Whoops. So now ... I guess I will be getting to 30 days a day late? Or do I need to do two outfits in one day? 30 for 30-ers out there, help me out! I'm new to this, I don't know all the rules ...

So I took my saggy butt jeans to the tailor tonight, which I'm now horrified to realize means ... that I won't have jeans for a week. I will not be able to wear jeans for A WEEK. Ohhhh noooo ... but I guess it's a small price to pay to have some bangin', non-saggy butt jeans in time for my trip down to Austin next weekend for Staple!, a superfun indie comics show. If you're in the area, you'll have to stop by my table and say "OMG Monica those jeans have really ... improved". Okay? Deal?

Oxford - H&M, dress - Target, belt - American Apparel, pants & necklace - Express

30-for-30: Day 19

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I'm afraid the true meaning of the 30-for-30 might be getting lost on me. As I keep remixing, and checking out all the other lovely remixers going along with me throughout February ... I'm starting to think about how much new stuff I want to buy when this is all over! Wait - that's not the point of this, is it? I'm definitely learning to be more creative with what I have, but man ... now I'm starting to think what I'd do with all new stuff to throw in the mix! Maybe I'm just getting too used to my 30 items, and I'm not going to turn into a ravenous clothes monster when this is all over ... hopefully.

Shirt & skirt - H&M, belt - Doubledutch Boutique, boots - Hive & Honey