My toddler Arianna is almost done. She will be the third one iv created this year and probably my very last ever. I'v given her blonde hair and dark brown german glass eyes. I'm waiting for her hair to dry so I can actually style it and show you some sneak peek photos. Hopefully in the next few days I'll be able to put her together for you to see.
On a side note, work for my new etsy store has begun. I hope to feature a few new dolls and other pieces of art work. That will open up early November. If all goes well it's where I'll be headed full time.
I'v been on a "Aphex Twin" kick lately. One of my favorite songs is "Stone In Focus". They have some amazing creative songs all around, some beautiful and melodic others kinda creepy yet awesome!
Cheers...
UPDATE:10/16
Arianna is coming along nicely. Work on her face is basically finished and now onto her arms and legs. She will be finished sometime next week if all goes well. She has really pretty German glass eyes. This was just a quick photo with out her hair being styled. More to come....
Last month was so exciting as far as new album releases. My two favorite singers released solo albums only a week apart. Brandon Boyd from "Incubus" released "The Wild Trapeze" and Jimmy Gnecco from "Ours" released "The Heart". Talk about Christmas in July! Jimmy has an unbelievable voice. The first time I heard it was almost 10 years ago while shopping at some clothing store in the mall. I stopped what I was doing and looked at the t.v screen in a trance while "Sometimes" played from the "Distorted Lullabies" album. Needless to say the next place I went was to buy the album. To this day still one of my favorites. Sadly I have never been able to see them play live, they tour mostly on the east coast. Next time they are over here on the west coast it's on! Fingers crossed!
As you may or may not know I am a huge Incubus fan. Iv been able to see them live a couple of times and even met them last year around this time. I like to donate some of my proceeds of my own art work from my VGG dolls to the Make Your Self Foundation. I own some of his art, originals I wish but they are signed. Anyways, Brandon Boyd has come out with a solo album which you all should get! I can't stop listening to it. Even more exciting news is Incubus is going back into the studio for another album.. :) So far "Courage and Control" is one of my favorites on the album, probably because it's just an acoustic guitar, piano and a gorgeous voice. I wish I wrote it.... The drums in all of these songs are phenomenal. You can click on the picture below if you would like to order!
Brandon Boyd releases solo album and INCUBUS heads back to the studio With a career that's spanned almost two decades, six albums, a handful of EP's and DVD's and a Greatest Hits album which has chronicled it all under his belt as lead singer of the multi-platinum selling band Incubus, Brandon Boyd and Epic Records are pleased to announce the July 6th release of Brandon's first solo album entitled, The Wild Trapeze. Fans can purchase a limited edition CD that ships with a personal letter and T-shirt featuring hand drawn artwork by Brandon at www.thewildtrapeze.com. The album is also exclusively available digitally on the iTunes Store.
I have totally slacked on Monday's Music! (I know it's not Monday hehe) Well if you want to know what I currently have on repeat blasting this week it's "Katy Perry's" MTV Unplugged album. I was searching for some acoustic guitar tutorials I came across this video, then it led me to buying the CD from iTunes. Funny how that works.
If you know a little about me I am obsessed with You Tube tutorials or "how to's". I learned how to reborn babies last year from You Tube.
So while my boys are taking naps or at school, I go to work. While babies are baking in the oven (always sounds weird haha) & cooling off for the next layer of paint, I try to pick up my guitar for a good 30 mins. a day. Since I am at home all day, You Tube is my bestie!! Free teachers! I decided I wanted to learn "Thinking Of You", so I headed to the web.
I am about 1/2 way done with learning the song. Katy Perry is amazing!
Iv been a slacker the past couple weeks on my Monday's music, just been a bit busy! I hope everyone had a fantastic Easter!
As you may know I come from a long line of talented musicians, both sides of my family. Besides art I love sharing who I listen to on a daily basis. This bands is tied on my #1 all time favorite top 5 list with another band called OURS. Yes, I equally love them the same. I tend to blast both each day at some point while I work. I will get to Ours next week.
I had the privilege of seeing Incubus twice in concert recently. The first time was in Hollywood at some small venue and the 2nd time was late last year at the Hollywood Bowl. My sister and I won tickets that supported & gave 100% of the proceeds to the Make Yourself Foundation. We had a meet & greet with some kick-a seats in the front.
Let's just say it was a-m-a-z-i-n-g! We (and about 50 or so other people) were able to meet our hero's face to face. They were some of the nicest people you have ever met! If you are influenced by art, Brandon Boyd the lead singer for Incubus is an amazing artist. I highly recommend you checking out his work. Each band member has done solo projects featuring music or art of sorts. If we were in town we would have loved to go see Mike Einziger perform at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in California. Talk about talented!
I donate 10% of the proceeds of a couple of the babies I make each month to the "Make Yourself Foundation". The program is through Mission Fish and is linked to my auctions. It's important to give back and try to make a difference in this world. Even a small sum helps. So thank you to all those who have adopted a charity auction baby from me, we gave back together!
Do you want to see some entertainment? My 4 year old son also loves Incubus (and knows all the words). We filmed this video of him about 6 months ago, so be sure to watch the last 20 seconds. Love his dance moves. I just had to share since we are on the subject. He is going to be our little rock star or entertainer someday!
Incubus became one of the most popular alt-metal bands of the new millennium, setting themselves apart from a crowded field with a tireless touring ethic and a broad musical palette. Formed in 1991 in the San Fernando Valley suburb of Calabasas, CA, the band's early lineup was comprised of tenth-grade classmates Brandon Boyd (vocals, percussion), Mike Einziger (guitar), Alex Katunich (aka Dirk Lance; bass), and José Pasillas (drums). Their early funk-metal sound was heavily influenced by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, but broadened over the next few years to incorporate thrash, rap-metal, post-grunge rock, and grinding alt-metal à la Kornor the Deftones. By the time the musicians had graduated from high school, they had already been playing all-ages shows around Southern California on a regular basis. In 1995, Incubus added hip-hop turntablist DJ Lyfe (aka Gavin Koppel) to their lineup and recorded the independently released album Fungus Amongus. That, coupled with a strong local following, helped the band earn a deal with the Epic Records subsidiary Immortal.
Incubus' first major-label release was the six-song EP Enjoy Incubus, which was released in early 1997 and consisted of previous demos that were revamped in the studio.Their full-length debut album, S.C.I.E.N.C.E., followed before the year's end. Incubus then hit the road with a vengeance, opening for bands like Korn, Primus,311, Sublime, and Unwritten Law. They had amassed enough of a following by 1998 to land a slot on that summer's Ozzfest tour, and they rounded out the year with a stint on Korn's inaugural Family Values tour, by which time DJ Lyfe had departed and been replaced by DJ Kilmore (first name Chris). With their momentum and exposure slowly building, Incubus returned to the studio and delivered their follow-up album, Make Yourself, in late 1999. The group went right back out on the road, and their stint on the 2000 Ozzfest helped cement the new audience that the band's new single, "Pardon Me," was pulling in.
Although Make Yourself barely broke the Top 50 on the album charts, it was a tenacious seller that eventually pushed past the double-platinum mark. The second single, "Stellar," was a smaller-sized hit on rock radio, but the album's biggest song didn't hit the airwaves until 2001, when "Drive" became their first Top Ten hit on the pop charts. Incubus expanded their audience by playing Moby's Area: One package tour that summer, and with "Drive" still fresh in the public's mind, they released Morning View during the fall of 2001. It entered the charts at number two, confirming that Incubus had diligently worked themselves into stardom. "Wish You Were Here," "Nice to Know You," and "Warning" were all popular on rock radio, and the band naturally toured heavily in support -- this time as a headliner.
In early 2003, Incubus became embroiled in a contract dispute with Sony and filed a lawsuit to have their deal terminated under California labor laws. In April, the band announced the departure of bassist Dirk Lance. Within days, fellow Incubus guitarist Mike Einziger called upon his Time Lapse Consortium mate Ben Kenney (who had also played with the Roots) to be Lance's permanent replacement. The group remained a part of the Sony empire, however, and released A Crow Left of the Murder on Epic/Immortal in early 2004, which hit number two on the Billboard Top 200. Touring dates followed before Incubus headed home in November to take a well-deserved break.
The guys spent the next two years individually exploring things outside of the band -- including music, art, film, and literature -- though they also remembered to work on and finish their sixth album, which was recorded over a year's time in both L.A. and Atlanta. The resulting record, Light Grenades, debuted atop the charts upon its release in November 2006. The musicians then returned to their individual endeavors, with Boyd announcing in early 2008 that the group had taken a loose hiatus. Nevertheless, the following year found them issuing the two-disc hits compilation Monuments and Melodies and returning to the road for a summer tour. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide
If you have visited my professional website you will have heard this song/band before. It's the only song playing. Múm', who is one of my all time favorite bands creates beautiful & moving music. Not to mention the visual aspect of albums, websites, music videos ect. I adore Múm and I'll admit somewhat envious of their creativeness.
I came across this groups about 7 years ago with each new album better than the next. I have literally sat for hours simply listening to each album. I find myself listening more and more to them as I sit down to create which ever art piece I am working on. It seems my creative juices start to flow the moment I push play....
One day I will have the pleasure of seeing them live when they tour again in the USA, but sadly *sniff sniff* no dates announced yet
Out of all the albums, "Summer Make Good" is still my favorite....
Iceland pop experimentalists Múm were formed by Gunnar Örn Tynes, Örvar Þóreyjarson Smárason, and classically trained twin sisters Gyða and Kristín Anna Valtýsdóttir. Formed in 1997, the group met while working on a children's play. Smárason found his perception of music changed through hearing Aphex Twin and decided that he would abandon the guitar-based concepts of his prior bands. This was fine and dandy with his bandmates. Following a number of singles and remixes, the full-length Yesterday Was Dramatic -- Today Is OK was released in 2000 through TMT/Thule in Iceland and Tugboat in the U.K. Each of the band's four members was in their late teens when the record was released, hailed for its playful and imaginative use of all things musical and not so musical. 2001 saw the release of Please Smile My Noise Bleed on Morr Music, a compilation of remixes from the likes of isan and Arovane. A second full-length, Finally We Are No One, was released the following year on Fat Cat. Gyða left the band to focus on her studies before Múm's third album, Summer Make Good, arrived in spring 2004; the band rounded out the year with the Dusk Log EP. The next two years found Múm on the road. In 2005, the group collaborated with the National Dutch Chamber Orchestra at Amsterdam's Holland Festival on a piece inspired by the works of composer Iannis Xenakis. Múm returned to the studio the following year, and in the interim released a live album, The Peel Session, which was originally recorded in 2002 by the BBC. For 2007's Go Go Smear the Poison Ivy, the band was down to founding members Tynes and Smárason, who enlisted the help of guitarist/vocalist/violinist Ólöf Arnalds, trumpet/keyboard player Eiríkur Orri Ólafsson, vocalist/cellist Hildur Guðnadóttir, percussionist Samuli Kosminen, and multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Mr. Silla. The group recorded their fifth album, 2009's Sing Along to Songs You Don't Know, in Finland and Estonia as well as their native Iceland. ~ Andy Kellman, All Music Guide
Each Monday I plan on talking about music, since it is truly my #1 passion. I come from a family of talented musicians, one myself but do not spend enough time pursuing it. What was that about being my #1 passion? haha
Where to begin? Geez....there are so many amazing artists out there who are inspiring. When ever I am painting please know music is cranked up as loud as possible. An avid rocker at heart. What's on my play list today? Maybe possibly on repeat, this is my favorite song of the week. I tend to listen to music that makes you feel alive, well please welcome Band Of Horses: My 2 favorites songs currently :)
Emerging in 2004 with a woodsy blend of midtempo rock and reverb-laden vocals, Band of Horses quickly gained an audience in their native Northwest before Everything All the Time made them indie rock darlings. Multi-instrumentalists Ben Bridwell and Mat Brooke founded the group after an eight-year run with Carissa's Wierd, and an early performance alongside future labelmates Iron & Wine caught the attention of Sub Pop Records. The Seattle-based label signed the group in 2005 and reissued their self-released EP later that year, while Band of Horses retreated to the studio to record their full-length debut. Everything All the Time emerged in March 2006 and was warmly received; however, Brooke did not tour in support of the album and had officially left the group by July, choosing instead to devote his time to another Sub Pop act, Grand Archives. Nevertheless, Bridwell solidiered on with now-permanent bandmates Rob Hampton (bass) and Creighton Barrett (drums), playing stateside shows and touring Europe in support of the band's debut. The group returned to the States and relocated to Mt. Pleasant, SC, to be closer to their families; soon after, Band of Horses entered the studio with producer Phil Ek (who also helmed Everything All the Time) to record their sophomore album. Cease to Begin was released in October 2007, and the band set off on another stateside tour that same month. ~ Andrew Leahey, All Music Guide
Lacey Michelle specializes in hand made One of a Kind art dolls. Her Oddly Sweet Dolls are hand sculpted animals that are sure to make you smile! She is best known for her Dark & Twisty line of Victorian Gothic reborn baby dolls. Her work is available directly from her, Etsy, eBay or Galleries. Please check out the links above to view available pieces. Thank you for stopping by!
