Catching Up With the Mad Man in the Box

Oh, this news made my day!! This August, BBC America is scheduled to run four Doctor Who specials, in preparation for the Fall start of the seventh series!!

They did this last year, with three specials designed to act as a "memory jog". This time, the DW folks aim to marry the sci-fi with the sci-non fi, to create a laid-back, fun, but educational viewing experience. Here's the schedule:

August 4th, 11:00 PM (not sure of time zone. My guess is Eastern): The Science of Doctor Who.
Find out the real science behind "wibbly wobbly timey wimey".

August 11th, 9:00 PM: The Women of Doctor Who.
Yes, that sounds like a centerfold spread, but these chicks mean business! Learn about the ladies who can run through corridors backwards and in high heels.

August 18th, 11:00 PM: The Timey-Wimey Stuff of Doctor Who.
Trying to figure what happened when? This might help.

August 25th, 9:00 PM: The Destinations of Doctor Who.
Take a closer look at the Doctor's passport.

In addition, BBC America has released a series of teaser posters that are simply stunning. Click here to see them all (and turn them into desktop backgrounds, if you're like me).

Photo Credit: Screen Rant

***UPDATE! Thanks to eternaly relyneat, I can tell you that the first episode of the new season should air August 25th, as well. Thank you!!! (You have an awesome name, by the way.)

***UPDATE X2! Looks like it will air around that date...but not here. Season 7 will premier at the Edinburgh International Television Festival. Read all about it here. Thanks, eternaly relyneat, for the update! :)

Pin-Up Posters and Diva Decor

You know how I said yesterday that I hoped to take some pictures of the bathroom last night? Well, I decided to wait on that until there was something decent to photograph. Right now, the towels aren't out, the decor is only halfway installed, and a great big container of spackle is right smack dab in the middle of my countertop. Trust me, you want me to wait on this.

Andy's Room. Photo Credit: DisneyWallpaper

In the meantime, let me tell you about my nowhere-near-finished guest room! (I can tell you're just chompin' at the bit.) The room had been what Thomas referred to as "Andy's Room Blue", but we painted over that with slate gray and trimmed the window, doors, and baseboards in white. Most of the accents are lime green, which really pops against the gray.

The inspiration for the room came, in part, from a rather odd source: Victoria's Secret. I kid thee not.

See, back around the time of the last fashion show, the company held a sweepstakes, and I--for once--won a prize! I received a design-inspired sketch of one of the runway looks. Now, to be perfectly frank, I wasn't thrilled. I was thrilled to get anything, of course, but I'd hoped for a gift card, discount, or maybe a t-shirt. Design-inspired sketch never even entered my mind. What on Earth was I going to do with a picture of some random chick in lingerie?


Photo Credit: CBS News.
Change the yellow to pink, and this is my sketch.

A few weeks later, my "major award" arrived. Inside a little "Congratulations! You're a Winner!" card was the sweetest little cartoon-like sketch of a redheaded superheroine--all in hot pink with white go-go boots! The background was a lemon-lime green, and the entire piece was beyond adorable. I squealed a little, and decided right then and there that I would decorate the guestroom in a sophisticatedly (is that a word? It is now) girly fashion. The sketch went into a chrome frame with a white mat, and the search for equally precious pinup art commenced. 

A quick search on Amazon brought up some winners. Here are my favorites:

Photo Credit: Poster Shop Live (This and next two)

Link

Link

Photo Credit: Pop Culture Graphics

Since the room's going uber-girly, I thought I'd toss in a frilly mirror...

Photo Credit: Kirkland's

...then tone things down a bit with a mod lamp.

Photo Credit: Target

It's a work-in-progress, but I think we may be getting there. Any thought? I'd love to read them in the comments.

Talk About Young and Rebellious...

Here's something extra adorable to get you through Friday Eve:



Photo Credit (this and below): The Official Star Wars Blog

 That's the happiest Han Solo I've ever seen. I want to hug all of those little cuties!!!

OH MY GOD, THEY'RE SO CUDDLY I'M GONNA DIE!!!! I think the funniest bits are Luke's open shirt and Leia showing some leg.

These posters (and two more you can view on the Star Wars blog) are by Hong Kong artist Dorothy Tang. Tang came up with these ridiculously precious propaganda-style posters for the arrival of the Star Wars x adidas Original Collections. I only wish the collection was as awesome as the advertising.

Marvelous Marketing

Well, I am still completely and totally, miserably sick.  Thank God for reruns of Las Vegas and Supernatural, as I've yet to figure out how to work the PS3 as a DVD player.  (Don't laugh!  I thought I had it worked out, and then they changed the controls on me!)

So, I've taken a break from fussing over (and cussing at) the controller to do a little surfing.  (Please forgive me if anything in this post is incoherent.  I have a fever, and am on TONS of lovely medications.)  In my computer play-time, I came across this post showing off the adorable poster campaign for Toy Story 3's Oscar bid.

The marketing team behind the campaign went with the idea to compare the computer-animated flick to past live-action Oscar winners.  Not a bad idea, since a nomination would pit the toon against live-action movies, anyway.  This way, they not only address the elephant in the room, but embrace it.

The posters are precious, and there are a few I wouldn't mind hanging in my living room.  What do you guys think?  Let me know in the comments.

Pass the Pushpins

The poster artist for The Night Shift sent Thomas a look at the nearly finished movie artwork, and I'm so excited right now, I can barely stand it.

Kyle Henry is amazing. I've never actually met the man, but I want to hug him. Thomas and I are both big fans of hand-drawn movie posters, and could think of nothing more fitting to capture the nostalgic 80s adventure-comedy feel of The Night Shift than a good old-fashioned hand-drawn poster. Kyle, you nailed it.

Photo by Kyle Henry

Now, there's still quite a bit left to do on this, and you can follow that work, and see the progression up to this point at Kyle's blog. I can't get over the detail in the faces, or how much the cemetery looks like our locations. Thanks, Kyle!!

So, if this has piqued your interest in movie poster art, might I suggest you try these on for size?

Photo br L.A. Artwork

How cute is this? L.A. Artwork, $19.99. This is a digitally restored giclee on canvas. You don't get much higher quality than that. On top of that, you have the iconic Veronica Lake (with her trademark hairstyle), plus adorable cartoon art mixed with lovely portrait work. Totally period, totally sweet.

Photo by Amazon

Here, we have the classic beauty and the beast tale. Goregous Fay Wray (in shredded nightie, no less), struggling to get away from a rightly smitten monkey man. I love the look on Kong's face, by the way. Beautiful artwork, prominent R.K.O. logo--a lithograph suitable for framing. Amazon, $20.

Photo by Amazon

I dare you to put this by your mirror! Get ready for your close-up with Norma Desmond! This poster is a replica of those from the German release of Sunset Boulevard, starring the often imitated, but never duplicated Gloria Swanson. Never before has derangement been so glamorous! Amazon, $8.99.

Photo by Amazon

Alrighty, this last one isn't exactly a movie poster, but how cool! It's a collage of some of Hitchcock's most popular works. It's by artist Justin Reed, and I think it's downright brilliant. I think my favorite bits are the bird painting in the back, and Norman Bates coming through the door on the far left. Amazon, $6.99.

Posters: they're not just for dorm rooms, anymore.

I'm a Bird Watcher...

Rufus is a very sick little parakeet. Thomas and I adopted him two years ago, and he's become part of the family. The good news is that the vet thinks he'll pull through. The bad news is that he's had a respiratory infection, which can be passed on to his mate, Fancy, and he has a heart murmur. This is one sick little blue parakeet. (Yes, I know Rufus means red. I didn't name him. That would be Thomas.)

Photo by Ailiang LLC

So, in honor of Rufus, his super-star behavior at the vet's today, and bird lovers everywhere who understand that it's not "just a bird", I did a little digging and found some pretty awesome bird-centric goodies floating around the Interwebs.I love this brooch. Not really a pin wearer, myself, but Polly looks awfully pretty in Swarovski studded purple, green and gold. Then again, I do live in the land of Mardi Gras, so what do I know. She's $15.99.

Photo by Overstock.com

This ring is amazing. I would not like to get punched in the face by someone wearing this ring (of course, I also would not like to get punched in the face, period), but it's pretty freaking gorgeous. Definitely a conversation starter for your next cocktail party:

"I say, I thought this was a cocktail party, not a cockatiel party. Aha, aha, aha, aha!"

*punch*

$39.99 at Overstock.com. Medical insurance not included.

Photo by ebay

I want this poster. My entire apartment is decorated in art deco and vintage inspired posters. Some movies, some magazine covers, whatever looks cool. I have no earthly idea where this would go, but I'm about two seconds away from hitting buy it now on the ebay listing. It's a reproduction of a 1919 perfume advertisement, and all I can say is they sure don't make 'em like they used to. $21.95 on ebay, with free shipping.

Photo by Dinodirect.com

Ha!! This just makes me giggle. It's a 4GB, rhinestone encrusted, parrot shaped USB Flash Drive. It's silly and pointless, and I so want one. Mostly, though, because $34.79 is a really good price for four gigs. Just sayin'.

Photo by ShopNewZeland

And, last but not least, it's a budgie! It's a robot! It's both!! Robo-keet! I'm not really sure I have anything to add to that. It's $153.30--way more expensive than anything else on this list, but I had to show you guys.
I'll keep everyone posted on the little guy's recovery. Happy bird-hunting!
UPDATE: Rufus is 100% back to normal, and he and Fancy are very happy to be back in the same cage again. Thanks!