WW87: M U, MONKEY BUSINESS and GIVE ME MY MONEY!

Five things that I LOVE this week!
Let's get to it:

1.) LOVE this website for "Monsters U".

So darn clever! Those Pixar folks know how 'do it up'! Go check it out HERE!

 2.) And speaking of clever......this exhibition would be STELLAR to go to!!! Gallery1988 will be hosting a new pop culture exhibit titled Around The World In An 80′s Daze, featuring artists Tom Whalen (aka “strongstuff“) and Dave Perillo (aka “Montygog“), that will display 21 popular films from the 80′s as screenprinted retro travel posters.

Robocop

Thundercats and Caddyshack

The Terminator

Airplane

National Lampoon's Vacation

The exhibit is open now through Saturday, October 20, 2012 at the Gallery1988 Venice gallery in Santa Monica, California. I wish I could be there!!!!!!!!
(thanks to Laughing Squid for this one)

3.) These are inspired clothes hooks!!!!!! INSPIRED!!!!!

You absolutely must BUY THEM HERE

4.) Thanks to my sister who lovingly made Thanksgiving dinner this past weekend. She made this recipe and I HAD to share it with you. YUUUUUUMMMERS!

Twice Baked Cauliflower

(Makes 6-8 servings; recipe adapted slightly from The Low Carb Gourmet.)

1 large head cauliflower

4 oz. low fat cream cheese (do not use fat free)

1/2 cup low fat sour cream (do not use fat free)

1/4 cup minced green onions

1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (If you only have finely grated Parmesan, use a bit less)

6 slices bacon, cooked until very crisp, fat blotted with paper towel and then crumbled

1 cup reduced fat sharp cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 350F/180C. Cut out stem and core from cauliflower, and cut into small pieces. Cook in large pot of boiling salted water until cauliflower is tender, but not overly soft. Drain well and mash with potato masher, leaving some chunks. Mix in light cream cheese, light sour cream, green onion, Parmesan, and 3/4 of the crumbled bacon. Spread evenly in a medium-sized glass casserole dish. Sprinkle with low-fat cheddar cheese and reserved bacon. Bake 30-35 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.

5.) This made me laugh and laugh and laugh......."now give me my money":

THE GREAT CIRCUS MURAL

Happy ALMOST Christmas y'all!

I wanted to share what I have been doing for the last 3 weeks!!!

I have been painting an EPIC mural in a baby nursery.
Some have called it the Sistine Chapel of baby rooms.

Thanks to my good friend Cindy (please check out her other works HERE) 

WE just completed a terrific and super fun mural themed around a vintage circus. She is super talented, and I was very lucky to have her!!!

SO.....about the mural......the client didn't want it too pink or too babyish.......I think the final work is some of the best I have ever done!

Here is the progress of the FOUR WALLS of murals in pictures....enjoy:

In the beginning....

...there is reference up on white walls......

I liked this as reference for the mural...

I also liked this perspective....and the colours....

SOMEONE ELSE'S MURAL.....that I liked the idea of.....

Another mural that inspired me......mostly.....

Thankfully Cindy is  MASTER illustrator...and all the animals are from her!!!!

The rough computer rendering of one of the walls

The line drawing of the opposite wall

First all the drapery and bunting went in.......

Then we began to work down the walls

I LOVE how the drapery turned out....
it is a bit more subtle than traditional circus tenting!

Fast forward to near the end......I was UNHAPPY with this - the colours were just  too hot.....

So I added blues and pinks and beiges on top......

The final wall. (click on it to make it larger and see all the details!!)
 AMAZING......NO???

The opposite wall......i couldn't get it all in....I hope to have a better picture for you soon!!!

I love how the little girl welcomes you to the room!!!!

The key to this mural was all the little special details....like the posters on the fence...

I love this poster.....it took a bunch of time to design!!!

Close up of Cindy's characters.....

The flying pig....LOVE HIM!!

Bear on stilts 

Little 'Stella'

So there you have it.
Was it worth 3 weeks? YOU BETCHA!
It just goes to show you that a nursery doesn't need to be AWFUL and pink....
What do you think??