|
|
|
|
|
|
Chef’s kiss…
Hey, it’s my birthday week AGAIN. Another year down, and what a year it was for me! You might remember that I had a milestone birthday last September when I turned 50. Turning 51 feels different, better. I mean, I feel drastically different inside and look drastically different on the outside. For the first time in my adult life I have begun letting go of societal expectations of who I should be and really begin stepping into who I actually am. I’m still me, of course, just more me, if that makes sense. I guess birthdays are a good time to step back and reflect for a moment, to look at the bigger picture that is your life. Time seems to move faster as you get older, so it feels good to have a reflective pause, fleeting as it is.
— Rusty Blazenhoff
P.S. Hey, a while back I switched to Cash App for accepting contributions and they don’t make it easy to send proper thanks. But I didn’t want another minute to go by without sending big thanks to everyone who supports me! Teamwork makes the Dreams work.
Thanks to AG for that image!
|
|
|
 |
Was. not. ready. for. that.: For the past six years, YouTuber Demi Adejuyigbe has launched a video set to Earth, Wind & Fire’s song “September” on September 21st itself (at exactly 9:21 a.m. no less). His much-anticipated videos are always full of surprises and have developed a sort of cult following. Plus, as I write this, they’ve raised over $389894.82 for charity. Well, this year he outdid himself and I wasn’t ready for the wave of emotions. He filmed the big dance scene at Willis Wonderland, the fabulous home of Allee Willis. Some context: One of Allee’s many claims to fame was that she co-wrote “September.” Allee was my friend, is still my muse and, if you’ve been reading the zine for long enough, you’ll remember that she passed away suddenly at the end of 2019. So, the video gave me some big feels. Happy belated Allee Willis Day, everyone!
:: Related: Do you remember? (I’ll never forget!)
:: boingboing.net/2021/09/20/ba-de-ya-why-earth-wind-fires-september-nonsense-lyric-stayed-in-the-song.html
:: There’s a “People’s WPA” Thanks, Emily!
:: usdac.us/peopleswpa
:: The Sample is a meta-newsletter that points folx to other newsletters (and Electric Dreams is part of it, I’ve just learned!)
:: thesample.ai
:: One, two, three, four, five…THE POINTER SISTERS!
:: boingboing.net/2021/09/21/it-was-the-pointer-sisters-that-sang-sesame-streets-funky-pinball-counting-song.html
:: This pink leopard lady head print is so cool
:: instagram.com/p/CUA_9kHvOD5
:: Tracking emoji usage on Twitter in real time
:: emojitracker.com
:: Adam J. Kurtz‘s new book You Are Here (For Now) looks promising
:: youtu.be/1dGcGkMfB5Q
:: A very special bookshop Thanks, Oriana!
:: twitter.com/evgrieve/status/1439263251645313024
:: A Hallmark card writer gives tips on how to write a personal letter
:: npr.org/2021/08/09/1026185212/letter-writing-hallmark-personal-tips via
:: If you saw Fantastic Fungi, you’ll dig this! And, if you haven’t, go watch it, it’s terrific
:: youtu.be/5yq0_mqN97s
:: These HATS!
:: instagram.com/p/CT9wbUlNPSd
:: TIL: the terrible story of square dancing’s white supremacy roots! Say it ain’t so!!
:: qz.com/1153516/americas-wholesome-square-dancing-tradition-is-a-tool-of-white-supremacy
|
|
| Real thing you can actually buy: blue-ya! |
|
| “Tiffany Blue” is trademarked across the board but that didn’t stop British Artist Stuart Semple from recreating the iconic robin’s-egg blue in a paint shade!
In related news: Purdue University scientists have invented the whitest-white paint which “could eliminate the need for air conditioning.” I’ll believe THAT when I see it!
Real things you can actually buy: yay!
:: A retro horror zine by Allan Graves: Monsterama
:: A cardigan inspired by lava lamps |
|
| I love a good origin story and I never knew this one before! Julie Jackson of Subversive Cross Stitch is absolutely slaying it with her crowdfunding campaign to expand her business. In its description she shared that 20 years ago she had a terrible boss, so she bought a wedding sampler kit for “art therapy.” She took it home and altered it with the word “fuck” in the middle. She writes, “I had no idea I was starting a whole new genre of snarky cross stitch.” The photo above shows the pattern that started the empire. Love it! (Don’t miss her new book too.) |
|
|
ONLINE
[12/12] The Krampus & The Old, Dark Christmas with Al Ridenour, a Zoom lecture
BAY AREA, CA+
[San Francisco :: Until 10/10] Ticket to Ride, an art show by Tim “The Optimist” Williams celebrating paper MUNI transfer tickets, 1485 Haight Street
LOS ANGELES, CA+
[Los Angeles :: Now through 10/31] Bob Baker Marionettes’ Hallowe’en Spooktacular promises an “hour-long, family friendly boo-sical revue, over one hundred spirited puppets rally to unearth ghastly things on strings.” I bet it’s darling! Tickets are $20.
NEW YORK, NY+
[a currently undisclosed location in NYC :: 10/16] Lost Horizon Night Market
SOMERVILLE, MA
[Union Square :: 9/22 to 9/26] The big festival that celebrates Marshmallow Fluff is back: Sweet 16: Onward & Fluffward promises “live music, fluffalicious feasts, games, zany happenings, and much more.” My favorite part, since I can’t travel to Massachusetts to attend, is the cool stuff that artists make and sell for it. As of this writing, I don’t know what’s in store except from one artist, Sarah Dudek. Last year, I got the COOLEST Fluff tea towel from her and immediately started following her on Instagram. This year, she’s put the same awesome art on mugs (which I clearly need). |
|
Big chef’s kiss to this: When Portland-based Artist LeBrie Rich was looking for testers to try out her new Felt Lover’s Pizza needle felting kit, I jumped on the chance. Not only do I LOVE-LOVE-LOVE her felted sculptures of iconic packaging, I’ve also wanted to try felting wool myself for a long time. I just didn’t know where to start. Well, the kit she sent makes it super-crazy easy to get started, and imagine my delight when it arrived in a real pizza box— kissing chef and all! It has clear instructions and links to even clearer video tutorials. There’s even a bandage for the inevitable needle boo-boo. I’m still deciding what kind of topping I want on my slices but you can see what other people created in the photo below. I really can’t say enough about the kit (and LeBrie!). Her shop, PenFelt Studio, has them in stock for $40/each.
|
|
|
Rusty’s Electric Dreams is a fortnightly inbox zine by Rusty Blazenhoff for positive deviants and the people who love them. If this was forwarded to you, please consider subscribing yourself.
Described as, “One of the most inspiring, weird and off-kilter collections of curated kitschy ephemera for the big-brained.” People like it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
