No, I don’t mean the decor. I’m talking about that feeling you can get at three AM (or anytime at all) when you are ensconced on the porcelain throne and there’s no toilet paper anywhere in sight. Its been years since I’ve had to look around for pages from the Sears catalog; I’ve gotten very fond of two ply tissue instead. So when the roomies use it up and forget about replacements, its a damp and dreary feeling. But never fear! There’s a cure–it starts with a little knowledge and continues with a little bit of thought. In the interest of bathroom humor and etiquette for all, here’s a look at the poster I had made up (using Adobe Illustrator and its awesome 3D modeling tool) for the folks here at my place.

Those rumors about yer old Aunt Acid running away to join the circus just aren’t true. Its been a while since I posted last but it is in pursuit of showbiz dreams that don’t involve near as much sawdust, though there are sequins aplenty. If I WERE going to spend a season or two, it would be as one of the acts with Betty’s Big Top Circus. They don’t hardly make ‘em any bigger and bolder than Betty. And those Italian aerialists brothers and cousins with her sure can move around fast and smoothly, on or off the wire.

Here’s a peek at the logo, rendered using Adobe Illustrator.

soup can

Originally uploaded by sarajane helm

Some things simply don’t come canned and condensed, and Aunt Acid’s one of them–so’s her 3 Mother’s chicken soup, made using a blend of recipes from Chinese, Jewish and Hippy Earth Mothers. But it DOES make for a nice graphic and this one was for my 3d assignment in Adobe PhotoshopII.

The real thing is well worth making–freeze some and have it handy when somebody has a cold–this one burns out all the germs and even cuts through the dreaded rubber-cement mucus.

With peppers, onions, garlic, mustard, horseradish, ginger, lemon and more in this delicious soup, you’ll find you can breath again. Its practically an Auntie-biotic!

And a foot too…thats what talented polymer clay artist Chris Rutter sent as a lovely gifty to ME! She’s sent along a gorgeous set of single extremities, trimmed in gold cord and black maribou feathers, all set onto a gold and black covered 6″x6″ ceramic tile.

While the toes sport a lovely fire red nailpolish, (made using acrylic paint and varathane as people-type polish doestnt do well on polymer clay in the long run) the nails on the hand are left unpainted, the better to show of this translucent pc manicure. Now if I ever need a hand, I’ve got an extra. Thanks bunches, Chris!!

What’s cooking with Aunt Acid!

Originally uploaded by sarajane helm

I’m serving up a look at another assignment in my Photoshop II class. This one was to design a book cover using the various masks and modes that we’ve been studying. I also used three photos (good thing I’m also taking a digital photography class) and a food image that I created in Illustrator last semester–I LOVE Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop! (and I love using my homework more than once….thats Creative Leftovers which can be lovely reheated or served cold!

So here’s a look at what’s been cooking here at my house. Someday I’ll put the insides of this book together—I’m saving up some great recipes. But only the cover was this week’s project!

aunt acid baby book

Originally uploaded by sarajane helm

What’s “real” when it comes to art and Adobe Photoshop, or the life of a puppet? That’s not a question that comes down to black and white, or even sepia tone!

If there was a book about Aunt Acid’s turn as a child star in Vaudeville, this would be it. It’s also my homework….

Here’s the “final product” in the Mask Layer and Vanishing Point Filter assignment for my Adobe Photoshop II homework. I love this class!

Aunt March

Originally uploaded by sarajane helm

Here’s Aunt Acid in a Nouveau Arts sort of way!
This was a fun assignment for part of my Adobe Illustrator class final project. It started with a photo for reference, but then I drew/created this image using the tools in Illustrator.  I love doing jewelry parts with the 3d tools and graphic styles and more…the pen tool was tough at first but now I know that its a wonderful thing!! What a great program!!

This one is a calendar pic for March 2010, part of a fictitious (but possible!) calendar featuring Aunt Acid in the homage to the styles of many artists.

Here you have a kinda-Mucha….sorta!

If Aunt Acid were to write a tell-all book about her life as a modern muse and spokesmodel, this might be it. Of course, she’d NEVER do that—there are some things a body just keeps to themselves, if they are honorable.  And then there’s the stories you tell at private parties but never in print.  Although the most fascinating details might never hit print, there’s always something of interest going in THIS spokesmodel’s career, and its not just hitting the runways, or hitting the help like SOME supermodels. We pick up after ourselves around here, ladies and gents,  in the belief that no one is so special they can’t put their own undies in the hamper.

A calender of artistic spoofs is in the works for some future year, and here you see a print of Aunty in the style of Andy.

April is always full of surprises, such as weather that can go from 15 inches of new snowfall to 80 degrees and balmy in just a day or two. Blossoms in the snow have been sighted recently.

It’s also yer auld Aunt Acid’s birth month!

Just a year ago, the wrappings came off and the beauteous mug that is mine-own shone forth!

In special celebration, here’s a  poster rendered in homage to the style of Alphonse Mucha and his lovely floral femmes.  Al  set the stage for beautiful curves in the art of advertising in his era.

This image also shows how flowers come together. No need to send the kiddies from the room–it’s just art, no birds and bees involved.

Have you been wondering what yer old Aunt Acid’s been up to lately? well, life’s been busy as always. The gang is still renovating the theatre getting ready to Put On Shows and Friday nights are musicly hot at the Blue Swirl Bar and Grill.  While waiting for the paint to dry and those pesky building inspections  (we could have sworn the wiring was still good, but when sparks fly it probably should be the actors emoting, not the lights) the show still goes on..somewhere. Heres a picture of Aunt Acid co-starring in the Off Off Off Off Broadway re-make of “Babes In Bloom”. She wows ‘em once agaian with her stirring rendition of “Money Doesn’t Grow On Trees”. It was true when Flo Ziegfield first produced it in the 1930’s and its still true today, so dont believe anybody that says they’ll plant your dollars for next year’s crop.