Christmas Gift Haul

Merry Day After Christmas!  Hope everybody's holiday plans went well.  My Christmas was pretty good.  Enjoyed a good meal and got some cool gifts that I wanted and didn't expect.  All from my awesome mother.

First up, a skull and crossbones latch hook kit.  Kit didn't come with a latch hook.  So, that will be something that I have to get the next time I'm out.

These next gifts came as a total surprise.  Seriously did not see them coming.  A jewelry making kit and a pack of skull charms  I squee'd so hard. XD

My mother also hooked me up with some other crafting goodies that I've been wanting.  She got me an assortment of fabric paint.

 A pack of silver ring bases and some industrial strength adhesive.

In the gift card department, I got an itunes gift card. 

For the grand finale, I saved the best for last.  The last 2 gifts that I received were a pack of peeps and some andes.  Mmm.

Think I'll go buy Voltaire's "Raised by Bats" album with my itunes card while munching on some peeps.  See ya.

Seasons Greetings

Christmas is almost here and my mother has decked out the apartment with festive decorations.  So I wouldn't feel left out of the process, she tasked me with decorating a mini fake tree for the bedroom.

In my humble opinion, I think it came out pretty good.

The horror. THE HORROR!!!

Figured I'd help out my fellow New Jerseyans and spread the word about this event.

For tickets, contact Robby Bloodshed at https://www.facebook.com/RobbyBloodshed.  Do not purchase from the venue or online.

Mini Birthday/Early Christmas Gift Haul

A few days ago, I used the gift card that I got for my birthday to order a pair of earrings from a shop on Etsy called Lunar Owl Creations.  If you're a regular follower of my blog, you probably remember me talking about this shop in one of my past posts.  Anyway, the earrings arrived earlier today and they look amazing.

Bonus: The earrings came with a free matching bracelet.

This is my second purchase from Etsy and I am again pleased with what I received.  These will go great with my pentacle necklace.

A Feast for the Ears

Got another album that I would like to share with you all.  This one comes from a Swedish artist called My Own Sorrow.  Their sound is best described as dark electro mixed with mystery, occult and horror.  Download the album now by clicking the link below.

Crawling Chaos 

Happy Birthday to Me!

Today, I turned the big ??.  My brother, sister in-law and their rugrat came over yesterday for a small pre-birthday celebration.  Was hoping to have a birthday gift haul to share with you folks.  But no such luck.  My only gift was a $30 Visa gift card.

Later that evening, I was presented with not 1, but 2 birthday cakes.  One of them was a strawberry shortcake that my brother and sister in-law had bought.  The other, a strawberry flavored cake with strawberry frosting that my mother had made.  See what happens when family doesn't properly communicate with each other.  You end up with 2 cakes. =D

What's New?

Happy November, readers.  Besides having a birthday coming up in a couple of weeks, nothing much has been going on with me.  Still got some DIY projects that need to be completed and I have to make a return to the eye doctor to see about having the lenses in my glasses adjusted.  Even though things are no longer blurry as hell when I wear them, I'm still having a hard time with reading text.  Hopefully, this is a problem that can be easily remedied.

Happy Massive Candy Distribution Day!

Halloween is here!  Time to put on your slutty nurse, cat, viking, etc. costume and hit the streets.  Don't have plans this evening?  Never fear.  I have some movie recommendations for you.

• The Rocky Horror Picture Show: This movie is filled with thrills, chills and b-movie special effects goodness.
• The Nightmare Before Christmas: Who doesn't love a movie about a Halloween spirit trying to hijack Christmas?  Nobody!
• Corpse Bride: About a girl who's always the dead bridesmaid and never the dead bride.
• Coraline: Motherly love to the creepy extreme.  
• The Devil Wears Prada: A movie featuring a woman who can put the fear of God in you for simply wearing the wrong shoes to work.  Terrifying.
• She-Devil: Roseanne, adultery and acts of revenge.  I suggest you don't watch this movie with the lights off. 

There you have it.  My movie recommendations for Halloween.  Hope you enjoy.

All Treat and No Trick

Hello, boys and girls.  As an early Halloween present, here's a treat for the ears.  Jules Marie, one of my new favorite artists, has just released her second full album titled "Scarlet Lore."  Her sound is a dark mix of alternative, electronic, and dream pop with a bit of ambience.  "Scarlet Lore"  is available for free on bandcamp.com.   You can also get to the album download page by clicking the link below.

Scarlet Lore

Awesome Discovery

About a month ago, the mailman accidentally put a catalog into my mailbox that was meant for somebody else.  It was from this online store called The Pyramid Collection.  After looking through the catalog, I saw that the shop sold items that catered to a lot of different subcultures.  Like Gothic, Steampunk and other new age subcultures.  If these type of things Interests you, click the link below and give the site a look-see.

The Pyramid Collection

Jewelry Rehab 3: The Finale

I did it!  Last weekend, I finally completed my necklace project.  I ditched the elastic cord that I had originally planned to use and threaded some of the beads from my broken bracelet onto a short ball chain that I had sitting in my jewelry box.  Then, I took the rest of the beads and fed them through a pair of large silver hoop earrings that my mother had gave me.

For the low price of free, I created a cute jewelry set.  On to the next project.

New Specks and No Net

Finally got my new glasses yesterday.  Pros: Love the frames.  Cons: Lenses are super thick and everything's a blur when I wear them.  Eye doctor told to give it a few days to see if my eyes adjust to them.

In other news, Fios up and suspended my internet service without warning.  So, it will be awhile before I can get internet back up at home.  Now that that's out of the way, it's on to some serious business.  A picture of the Fonz jumping over a shark.  Feel free to discuss amongst yourselves the importance of this picture.

 

Minor Progress

Been slightly busy the last 2 weeks.  Had a well overdue eye exam and created a couple of stencils for t-shirt designs.  One of the stencils is in the shape of an ankh.  The other in the shape of a cross.

As you can see, the ankh stencil came out pretty good.  The cross one, not so much.  So, I didn't bother taking a picture of it.  Using a white fabric marker, I traced the ankh shape onto the front of a black t-shirt.  Once I get some white fabric paint, I'll be able to fill the ankh in.

Another DIY Project (Update)

Here's an update on how my little project is going.  Told one of my friends what I was up to and she sent me a patch that she had lying around.  Since my sewing skills are a bit rusty, I broke out the hot glue gun and glued the patch to the bag.  As I was gluing and pressing the patch down, some of the glue seeped through the edges.  I tried to wipe the excess off, but it just ended up leaving a white residue around the sides of the patch.

You can't tell from the picture, but the white residue works as a cool border.  I call that a happy accident.

Another DIY Project

A few months ago, my mother brought home 2 messenger bags that she got from work for free.  She kept one for herself and gave me the other one.  Around the middle of last month, I finally decided to add my own personal touches to the bag.  I started with scraping off the words that were already on it and adding a couple of buttons.

The bag is still a work in progress.  Some of the words are still visible.  But they'll fade out over time.  I'll probably add some more buttons and see about having some patches sewn onto it.

Throwback Thursday: Cartoon Edition

Forgot this cartoon existed til I saw this video on my fb feed.  Ah, memories.

More Bat Talk

Currently re-listening to Voltaire's latest album, "Raised by Bats."  Normally, when I listen to an album, I only really like some of the songs.  The other songs on the album are either okay or just not that great.  However, I found myself enjoying every song on this one.  Especially the song, Oh My Goth!.

"Raised by Bats" is available on itunes and cdbaby.com.  Low on funds?  No worries.  You can listen to the whole album for free on Voltaire's youtube channel, which can be found in the link below.

Click to Enter The Lair 

Gothic Comics

Gothic Comics is a website that works as a webcomic index.  It provides links to other Gothic comics.  Both online and in print.  So, if you're interested in finding some new Gothic comics to read, you should give this site a shot.  Just click the link below.

  

Click for Gothic Adventure

Searching

The book that I ordered from Amazon arrived today.  It's a graphic novel called Avigon: Gods & Demons.  The story is about a female clockwork named Avigon.  A mechanical being who feels crushed by her cold environment and goes in search of something better.  This is going to be a good read.

Image Source: Amazon

Everybody Loves Reiko

On Friday, a member of one of my fb groups posted this video on the group's page.

                                
No words can describe how funny I thought this video was.  Probably laughed harder than I should have.  Anyway, after the video ended, I clicked on the link to the site where the video came from and discovered that it was a webcomic.  A very funny and bloody webcomic.  So, if you enjoy a good mix of violence and humor, I recommend giving Contemplating Reiko a read.

 Click Me. I Won't Bite.

Batty Jewelry

Came across this pic over the weekend while I was scoping Pinterest for some more Gothic DIY/craft ideas.

Unfortunately, the link that led to the blog where they were originally posted didn't provide any instructions on how to make them.  Bummer.

Hoax Alert

One of my friends just alerted me to the fact that the image I posted in my latest blog entry is not real.  It was part of an April Fool's joke.  Disappointment has set in.

You can read about it here.

Well, Well. What Do We Have Here?

Noticed this while I was browsing through some Tim Burton images on Pinterest today.  My excitement senses are tingling.

Dark & Lovely Art

After some price haggling (Over fake currency.  Not actual cash.), I got one of my friends to do some avi art of the look that I showed off in my Dark & Lovely blog entry.

For those who don't feel like scrolling down to find the entry, this is the avatar that I posted: 

And this is the art that was done by Karret.

 

 Love it!  Love it!  Love it!  Gonna have to make Karret my art bitch. >D

A Spase Odyssey

Recently, a person named Tommy Spase started following me on twitter.  I headed over to his page and saw that he was a member of a band called Tommy Spase And The Alchemists.  Feeling a bit curious, I clicked the link that led to the band's website.  On, they're homepage, they describe themselves as WhimZicaL, MysTiCaL, TheAtRicaL, KoZmiC, VauDeVilliaN and RocK.  Getting more curious, I proceeded to watch the video for the band's song, "Call of the Wild."

It was fun and quirky.  Just like the rest of their songs that I ended up listening to on their facebook page.  So, if you're also into the WhimZical, MysTiCaL, TheAtRicaL, KoZmiC, VauDeVilliaN and RocK, I recommend giving Tommy Spase And The Alchemists a listen.  Click the links below to get your fix.

Tommy Spase And The Alchemists Website

Tommy Spase And The Alchemists FB Page 

Tommy Spase's Twitter Page

Andy Christ! Superstar!

Do you enjoy fictional violence?  Do you enjoy rabid squirrels?  Do you enjoy stories about children with demonic powers that might bring about the apocalypse?  Then, Andy Christ is the webcomic for you.  

Click the link below and get your reading on.

Click if You Dare

Dark & Lovely

Yesterday, while I was going about my business in the forums, I got a message stating that an anonymous user had sent me a gift.  So, I went to my inventory and saw that I had been gifted a black gown with gray and white accents.  I immediately went to my dress-up page and came up with this look.

Very stunning if I do say so myself.  Now, I need to see about getting some avi art done of it.

The Key to Shutting Down an Argument

Just felt like posting something silly. XD

Hemp and Spikes

Back in March, one of my friends posted about this shop on Etsy called Lunar Owl Creations.  Today, I decided to browse the shop for myself and I really liked what I saw.  All of the jewelry in the shop is handmade and looks awesome.  Click the shop name below and check out the awesome for yourself.  

L.O.C. also has a facebook page.  So, if you enjoy what the shop has to offer, head on over to it and click "Like."

Lunar Owl Creations 

LOC Facebook Page 

Dark Arches

Last week, I joined a facebook group for the webcomic Overcast With A Chance Of DOOM!  After I got accepted into the group, I came across this image that one of the other members had posted.

This got a big laugh out of me.  If such a restaurant existed, what kind of food would be served there?  Also, what kind of toys would be in the unhappy meals?

The Wonderful World of Webcomics

About 2 or 3 weeks ago, Voltaire announced on his facebook page that he was featured in a Gothic webcomic by Robert Tritthardt called Writhe and Shine.  Checked out the strip.  Then, went about my online business.  Last week, he posted another W&S strip that he was in and I took another peek.  After that, I finally decided to go through the comic's archive section and read it from the beginning.

Took me 2 days to read through the entire archive.  But it was worth it.  Writhe and Shine is an awesome webcomic.  It has a good mix of comedic and serious tones.  Once I was done playing catch-up with that one, I started reading Robert's other Gothic webcomic, Overcast With A Chance Of DOOM!

This one also gets a thumbs up from me.  Again, a good mix of comedic and serious tones.  I recommend giving both webcomics a read.

Writhe and Shine 

Overcast With A Chance Of DOOM!

Bubble, Bubble.....Something, Something.....

In early March, one of my guild-mates created a Make Up Your Own Spell/Ritual contest.  Haven't been able to come up with anything so far.  But the deadline for the contest is July 8.  So, I should be able to think up something by then.

Last week, I finally updated my cousin's blog layout to something she was happy with.  She also wants me to help her create a facebook page for it.  However, I haven't heard from her since she told me she liked the new layout.  Other than that, nothing much has been going on.  Here's hoping things start to pick up next month.

Time for a Change

Last week, my cousin asked me to help her with her blog.  She tasked me with deleting spam comments and prettying up the blog's appearance.  While I was working on her's, I decided to make some minor changes to my own blog.  From now on I'll be going by Aji LaStrange.  Caffeine's Cafe is now Cafe LaStrange.

Aji was a nickname that I adopted around 10 years ago and that is what most of my friends know me by.  As for the last name, I went with LaStrange because...Well, I am a bit strange.  To celebrate this occasion, here's a crappy picture of a cupcake that I made on MS Paint for a friend's birthday.

Keys!

A few days ago, this picture popped up on my facebook feed.

They're by an online shop called Cloud & Lolly that specializes in handmade accessories.  Out of curiosity, I took a peek at the site for myself.  The items in this shop look both cute and very well done.  I especially took a liking to their key accessories.  I would definitely recommend this shop to some of my friends.  Mainly because of the keys. XD

The Best Part of Waking Up.....

This is pretty much my daily schedule.  Can't start my day without at least 1 or 2 cups of this caffeinated goodness.  I usually take my coffee with sugar and some kind of flavored cream.  Two of my favorite coffee and cream flavors are white chocolate raspberry and red velvet.

Why do some people enjoy drinking coffee so much?  It might be because:

• It helps them wake up in the morning.
• It gives them energy to get through the day.
• It helps them focus on their tasks.
• It keeps them from slapping a bitch. XD

I would love to hear what others have to say about this subject.  So, don't be afraid to leave me a comment.

Pinteresting New Territory

Today, I decided to finally give Pinterest a try.  So far, I'm liking it.  Seems easy to find a lot of things that I'm interested in.  While I was browsing through images of Gothic DIY/Crafts, I came across this.

This probably won't be a project that I'll attempt anytime soon.  But I thought it looked cool and felt like sharing.

Avi Art

Yesterday, one of my guild-mates opened up an art shop in the guild's Goth Shops sub-forum.  Since she needed some art samples for her shop, she offered to do the first two requests for free.  I love avatar art.  Especially when it's free.  So, I jumped on the offer and asked for my avatar to be done.

After going back and forth about the finishing touches, the lovely Galenarie came up with this.

It came out great.  She just found herself a repeat customer. =D

Long Time, No Post

Seems that I have been slacking in the blogging department.  Besides the constant snow and breaking my glasses, I have nothing new to blog about.  It's been a slow couple of weeks.  Need to get to a Michael's or an AC Moore and get some more beads for my necklace project.  Yep, that's still a work in progress.  It will probably take another year to finish it.  Damn my lack of funds.

Tale of a Tail

Take a look at this furry little key chain accessory.

It's a bobcat tail that was purchased by Hyena_Queen, one of my group-mates.  She got it from an oddities store in L.A. called Necromance.  It kind of looks like a tiny raccoon tail.  Even though I'm not much for collecting dead animal parts, I thought this tail was cute.  It could probably also be used as an hair accessory or worn as an earring.  Either way, it's still a cute purchase.

A Simple Fix

This is a bracelet that my mother got me years ago.  A little over 10 years ago.  Wow, it's that old.  Anyway, it came with 2 silver interchangeable charms.  A love symbol and a pair of lips.  Eventually, I lost both charms because they broke off during times when I was out and about. :(

These are a pair of keys that came with a set of handcuffs that I got from a friend as a gift.  I ended up throwing out the cuffs because they were kind of crappy.  But I decided to hold on to the keys just in case I wanted to do something cool with them.

A few weeks ago, a light bulb went off in my head and I came up with this. 

My bracelet is charmless no more. :)

It's Here!

The spiked choker that I ordered from Etsy arrived last night.  I am quite pleased.  Check it out.

Jewelry Rehab 2

And here's what the necklace looks like currently.

Originally, I was only going to use the dark blue beads, but saw that the teal beads went well with the rest.  So, I added them to the necklace.  It could still use a few more dark blue beads.  Some kind of pendant would also be nifty.  If anybody reading this has any suggestions that they would like to share, feel free to leave them in the comments section.

Jewelry Rehab

This is a little jewelry project that I started back in May.  It's still a work in progress.

These are the beads from a bracelet that was given to me by one of my college roommates a few years ago.  About a year ago, my little niece got her hands on it and broke the elastic that was holding the beads together.  Instead of freaking out about it, I decided to make a necklace out of them.  

After my mother gave me a pack of elastic cord that she found amongst some of her junk, I came up with this.

It needed more beads, but I didn't have the funds at the time to get any.  This put work on the necklace to a halt.  Around late November, I realized that my old key chain had some dark blue beads that I could use to fill out the necklace some more.  So, I took the key chain apart and added them to what I had so far.  The necklace was starting to look better, but it still needed more beads.  Again, work on it was halted. 

 I was going to post a picture of what the necklace looks like currently, but my digital camera sucks up battery life like a sponge.  That will be a blog post for another day.

Looking for Some Strange?

Do you like Voltaire?  Do you like anything that's weird and macabre?  Then, click the link below and see about getting tickets for Voltaire's Wicked Necrocomiccon.

CLICK HERE!!!

Hello, Strangers.

Welcome to my blog.  Here, I'll be sharing whatever.  From photos, to craft projects, conversations that I've had with friends or other random stuff.  Sit back, relax and enjoy.