Welcome to Middle earth

Sneak peek at my latest map. 

View the full image and blog post here!

About Freaking Time

Needless to say, this map was inevitable and a long time coming. You might assume, sweet readers, that I only make maps because I want them. Well... then, you'd be right. I wanted to make a Middle Earth map for a long time, but the problem was, there were many "Lonely Mountains" and "Realm of Middle Earth" maps in  commercial circulation, and they are done quite wonderfully, in my perspective. So why reiterate something that ain't broke, right? Finally, it hit me at a Lord of the Rings party (whatever, what do your friends do?) you aren't having Mordor Morsels or Gondor Gimlets. No, you want to Shire it up, because that's where the Middle Earth party is at, folks! Staring at the looming, geometric border of Mordor all day could be a bummer, so why not balance that out with the Hobbits and discover just how many places are named after those crazy Tooks.

A sneak peek (Help us geeky love, you're our only hope)

Some of you may not know this, but I do love a fancy shindig. I may be reading too much Austen, (or "in the era of steam" novels), and this could just be an excuse to purchase an alarmingly excessive outfit, but there is something wonderful about a truly schwank event (like formal invitations, ballroom drama and judging the hell out of someone's taffeta.)

I may disagree with a lot about weddings, but it does seem to be the last great social shindig for normal folk (I say "normal" because watching watching Revenge has taught me not normal people seem to have formal shindigs for just about everything). In order to live vicariously through someone else's really expensive theme party, I got into making invitations. Like, really into it. So, without further rambling...

Lord of the Rings:

One love to rule them all, amirite? (I could only fit so many puns into the set itself, but I could keep going...)

The Comic:

I may have stolen this idea. When my older brother got married (the sibling who took the "natural-ability-to-draw" gene) he drew an homage to this comic cover. Ever since, I have been mulling over the comic book invitation. This invite originally began as a cover, but eventually it progressed into a last page/cliffhanger comic scene. It may be fitting since "Save the dates" are sort of cliffhangers themselves (all the "dropped a bomb" excitement with no information and months in between when anything new happens).

Macabre-ness:

My favorite Dia de  los Muertos figure has always been the wedding couple. I have seen a few Muertos themed weddings and I think they are just down right super. So, you know, this happened.

Finally:

What began as "steam" gradually turned into something of a World's Fair/turn of the century idea. This is still a work in progress, so something of the steam variety might turn up, but currently, I am in no mood to draw gears.

I think a space theme will certainly be next. In the meantime, I will be fishing around my pool of geeky love puns to help me choose between Star Trek, Star Wars and Doctor Who. Then again, I might just put it to a vote. Then again, I might just go with video games instead...Regardless, I am open to suggestions.

Love and the apocalypse

Friends, lovers and pets alike- Happy Valentine's Day! On a day I'm normally indifferent, I now realize how much fun can be had in making wry, nerdy, evasive and dark humored love cards. Mush is uncomfortable unless buried in awkward sentiments such as this, don't you think?

Today was a big day for new listings. For those friends who maybe are feeling a little glum (as many do on a day such as this) here is a new card to help pick them up!

Or maybe you are separated from someone you really want to be with? No better way to pull some far away hearts than with adorable, puppy-eyed sheep!

Pop the question maybe? Nerds getting married? Of course you need some help along the way! Lord of the rings Wedding Party invites

Whether we want it or not, we just cant ignore love (...at least not today. It's kind of a thing)

<3!