How 'Bout Them Apples?

So amidst all of the bottle cap craziness, we're going to my mother's house this weekend to paint her kitchen. Since Michael's family lives in the same city as we do, they often benefit from our free labor. While she tries not to show it, I know my mom wishes we were around to help her too. It's never easy balancing the family, but we do try to keep things as fair as possible. The apples above are a little something I whipped up yesterday afternoon to hang above her stove. They're cute right? I rescued this wooden plaque from Goodwill. It had a respectable, but really outdated painting of an eagle on it. After sanding down the old chipping paint and cleaning up the pretty brass hanger, I thought it could use some color. She doesn't have internet, so I don't worry much about spoiling surprises. I think I may try to find more of these plaques to salvage. Does anyone think there is a market for this sort of thing? They'd be something different in the shop. I've been in a painting mood.

In other news- Bottle Cap Challenge Participants - it looks like our protective cello bags won't be arriving until next week, but your prints will be mailed out as soon as they arrive. Oh yeah, and they're biodegradable too! Thank you for your patience :)

Bottle Cap Challenge Winners!!!!

We're very happy to announce the winners of the 2008 Bottle Cap Challenge!!! The contest was a great success. We greatly appreciate all of the entries. All of the caps we've received will soon be turned into fabulous bracelets for the shop. We'll be contacting the winners over the next few days about their prizes and everyone's complimentary art prints will be mailed out this week, so sit tight! To see how this all began, click here. So without further ado:

Congrats to Miss Courageous for her winning 1st place entry: "Kona Beer"

Congrats to Hoshitora99 for her winning 2nd place entry: "Waialua Soda Works"

Congrats to Amy Skye McCaskie for her winning 3rd place entry: "Henry Weinhard's Root Beer"

Thank you again!

Recycled Bottle Cap Bracelet: Soda Caps

We were recently asked to make a bracelet with all soda caps for a teacher who couldn't wear beer caps around her students. Soda caps seem to be the most difficult to find since typically, restaurants don't serve them and consumers just trash them. Throw in the sad fact that most sodas are going with plastic packaging these days, and you'll find yourself in our predicament. I sincerely wish that more people out there would buy glass anyway. It's much more easily recycled and it's made from natural materials. Plastic is plastic. Even if you recycle it, eventually it will end up in a landfill, on the side of the road, or in the ocean. Glass can be recycled over and over again, and aluminum is better still since it takes the least amount of energy to recycle. Of course, we've all heard the theories that aluminum cans are linked to Alzheimer's disease, so we'll stick with glass.

In other news, we've officially decided to extend the Bottle Cap Challenge through Sept. 20th for a few late entries we know are on their way. If you haven't put yours in the mail yet, there is still time!!! Do it today! If you don't know what I'm talking about, check it out here.

Local Favorites: World Domination!!!!!!

This weekend we had a blast at Dad's Garage Theater in the Little 5 Points area of Atlanta, GA. They were performing their annual World Domination TheaterSports Tournament with impov groups from the US, Canada, and France. We used to go to Dad's Garage quite regularly, but it seems like it's been a while since we've had time. I'm so glad we planned ahead and didn't miss this. If you haven't been to an impov show, please make the effort to go. Dad's Garage is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness of the arts through plays, impov, and classes. Just watch that potty mouth. Anyone , including the actors and audience members can get a "scum box" by saying a dirty word or lewd suggestion. You have to wear this nasty box on your head while the audience sings, "The scum box! The scum box! It's time to wear the scum box! Everyone knows your a dirty bum, when you wear the box of scum!" Ahhh... world domination...
And what a small world it is indeed. The day after we saw World Domination, Michael happened across a neat story on Digg about a social experiment in which someone left a camera on a city bench with a note asking passersby to please take a picture and leave the camera. The author said he would then claim the camera that evening and see what developed. (hahaha) As Michael looked through the pictures, he realized that he recognized the street corner that they were taken on. It was our very own N. Highland Avenue, which we frequent rather often. The article was one of a series in a quirky online magazine called The Plug. Check out the article here. Further investigation led to the discovery that one of the authors is none other than Rene Dellefont, who had hosted World Domination at Dad's Garage the night before. I am just giddy at the coincidence.

It's Elemental My Dear

In our efforts to add more color (thank you Racheal), we're experimenting with different ways we can dress up the blots. Round one- splatter paint. While I love the splatters, I'm not crazy about their relationship with the blot. I'd like to try some other things with splatter though. I think next we'll try some different colored ink. We think the spike on the right side looks like a radioactive piece of corn. What do you see?

Here is a clue to one of the secret projects we're working on. It's a present, so we'll have to wait until the recipient has it to show off the whole thing. Look for it sometime in October :)


Thank you to everyone who has entered the Bottle Cap Challenge so far. There is still time to send your bottle caps. Don't hesitate to send us a message if you're afraid your caps won't make it by the 10th. We may be extending the contest for a few late entries. Find out more here.

Chattanooga Getaway

Last weekend, we decided to get away for a little rest and relaxation, so we drove up to Chattanooga, Tennessee for the weekend. Saturday was pretty hot and maybe just a touch miserable, but we had a lot of fun. If anyone is considering going, here is our breakdown:

Chattanooga Aquarium- Definitely go. It may be a touch smaller than the Atlanta Aquarium, but we find it to be much more enjoyable, even when crowded.

Bluff View Art District- Lovely place to hang out. Be sure to check out River Gallery.

Rembrandt's Coffee House- Awesome place for coffee, desert, and atmosphere, but we'd avoid the sandwiches.

Hunter Museum of American Art- We loved the Hunter Museum, partly for the exhibit that happened to be there, but mainly for the little drawing stations they provide for visitors. There is even a magnetic poetry board in one area where you can compose your own poem and leave it for others to read.

Big River Brewery and Restaurant- Decent food. Decent Prices. Nothing fabulous, but service was very good.

Acropolis- Fantastic Greek Food. The owner is a wonderful gentleman who sits in his reserved booth and regularly makes his rounds to check on his guests and make sure they love their meal, and it would be impossible not to. We love this place so much, we've been known to drive all the way to Chattanooga JUST to eat here.

Courtyard Marriott Hotel- It's a room. Honestly, for the money I would have expected a lot more, but it was downtown, clean, and quiet. Parking is in the neighboring parking deck, so be prepared to carry luggage.

So overall I'd say it was a really nice trip. We need more of these. :) Don't forget that you only have a few more days (through Sept 1st) to mail in your caps for the Bottle Cap Challenge! Find out more here.

How's it Feel to Have Your Art in a Museum?

It's pretty awesome my friends, pretty awesome. Don't worry, we won't forget the little people, whoever you are… I know by now you're looking for the punch line, so... ok, ok. So maybe we don't have anything of ours hanging in the exhibition hall, but hey- we're not complaining. Anyone can feel like a Rembrandt at the Hunter Museum of Art in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The best part about the place in my opinion is that they don't just encourage viewing art, they encourage experiencing it and creating it. In several areas of the museum there are pencils and paper provided and guests are invited to create some art of their own. You can take your masterpiece with you, or leave it at the museum, where they will put it on display in one of the little lounge areas for others to enjoy. So while we were there this weekend, we left a little something behind. The big teeth in blue up there is named Chomper. I wish the picture was better, but hey- not too bad for a camera phone in so-so lighting. *Sigh* We only hope the museum will appreciate our generous contribution :)
Tomorrow I'll post about the entire trip, so stay tuned!

Don't forget that you only have until Sept 1st to mail in your caps for the Bottle Cap Challenge! Find out more here.

Bird Of Paradise?- An Ink Blot

This is a little blot we drew a while back. I've always thought it would be nice on a t-shirt. It's also a great example of where our logo came from. If you look toward the bottom you'll see a flower like image. That flower or some variation of its design tends to resurface often in our drawings, so it made sense to use it (cleaned up quite a bit) to represent us. Other reoccurring elements include eyes (or other facial features), scales, wings, and swirls. Although we do name each piece, we like for other people to decide what they see. What can you find?

Don't forget that you only have until Sept 1st to mail in your caps for the Bottle Cap Challenge! Find out more here.

Custom Bottle Cap Bracelet

Last week we received a custom local order from one of our favorite baristas. He couldn't wait for the end of our friendly competition, so he ordered one instead. It's our first request for all beer caps, which is amusing because we just got a request for all soda caps (which are much harder to find). I love the "g" in that center cap. Typography- what a wonderful thing. Don't forget that you could receive one of these for FREE by participating in our Bottle Cap Challenge. Find out more here.

Local Favorites: Marietta Diner

Now that I have your attention… :)

It's been said that if you try to do everything, you'll do nothing very well. With nearly 500 delicious items on the menu- all served 24 hours a day, Marietta Diner just might be the exception to that rule. Want a hamburger? Ok. Pancakes? No problem. Chicken cordon bleu? Spaghetti? Waffles? Paella? Pot Roast? Crab Cakes? Roast Turkey? Broiled baby lamb chops? Chicken teriyaki? They've got you covered. Oh, and then there is the Greek. The restaurant happens to be Greek owned, which means if you're in the mood for souvlaki, moussaka, gyro, or spanikopita, you're in for a special treat. We've been going for years, and decided to give them a visit this weekend. Even at 11 o'clock at night, the parking lot is overflowing and yet the wait is only about 3 minutes. If you happen to be in the Atlanta area and are in the mood for just about anything (anything extra special that is :), you must give them a try. Check out their feature on Food Network's Diners, Drive In's and Dives here.

In other news- Don't forget to enter The Bottle Cap Challenge to get a complimentary print and the chance to receive a free bottle cap bracelet or store credit!!! Entries are being accepted through Sept. 1st, so get movin'! (See the post below for more details)