The "19 Days of Edgar" Day 14

Jan. 14 Only five days left until Edgar Allan Poe's 202nd birthday, but we've been celebrating all month long. Over in The Rots' Edgar and Chloe store, you'll find something new and on sale every day until the big day. And then you won't. But never mind that now; that isn't happening until next week, so carpe diem!

Today's something: Aprons.

Edgar and Chloe aprons

Just Chloe aprons



You can choose from three different sizes, and if you like the Chloe-by-herself version, you can also choose from three different colors (the Edgar and Chloe ones didn't look so good on anything but white, so there you go). All the aprons will be on sale for the next 24 hours, after which time they will revert to their regular prices and I'll post something new and, as it turns out, also on sale.

I explain the whole idea of the "19 Days of Edgar" here.

The "19 Days of Edgar" Day 13

Jan. 13 And here we are at lucky number 13. All month we are celebrating the 202nd birthday of Edgar Allan Poe coming up on January 19. The Rots' Zazzle store is getting loaded with stuff featuring the Rotty version of Edgar and his raven, Chloe. Read about the idea here.

Today's stuff: Bags

Edgar and Chloe bags

Just Chloe bags



And you're not limited to just the sizes and colors pictured here. Choose your own style, color and size on the order page. All the bags in the Edgar and Chloe store will be on sale for the next 24 hours. After that, bags will revert to their regular prices, and I'll upload something new in the store.

The "19 Days of Edgar" Day 12

Jan. 12 And welcome to day 12. To celebrate the January 19th birthday of the American writer and poet Edgar Allan Poe, I've been posting new Zazzle designs with his Rotty image. Read about the whole idea here.

Today's designs: Totally customizable labels

Return address labels

Regular address labels

Shipping labels



You can customize all the labels with whatever information you like right on the Zazzle page.

All these labels will be on sale for the lowest price Zazzle will allow for the next 24 hours. After that, they revert to their regular price, and a new item will be posted for sale.

The "19 Days of Edgar" Day 11

Jan. 11 So we've made it past the halfway point, and I guess we might as well see this thing to the end. Edgar Allan Poe's 202nd birthday is next Wednesday, January 19, and all month I've been posting new Rots stuff on Zazzle. Something new and different each day, and totally on sale.

Today's new and different and totally on sale: Stationery

Edgar and Chloe stationery

Just Edgar stationery

Just Chloe stationery

And! The envelopes to send your stationery

And! The postage to put on the envelopes to send your stationery

Got you covered.

All this stuff will be on sale for the next 24 hours at the lowest price possible. Tomorrow evening I'll post something new, and the stuff listed above will revert to its regular price.

Read about the "19 Days of Edgar" here.

The "19 Days of Edgar" Day 10

Jan. 10 And there you have it. Nine days down, nine days to go. Plus day 10 in between. In celebration of Edgar Allan Poe's 202nd birthday coming up on January 19, I've decided to post something new every day to The Rots' Edgar and Chloe store on Zazzle, and put that something on sale for the day. Here's the idea as I had originally posted it.

Today's something: Mousepads

These mousepads will remain on sale at the lowest price Zazzle will allow for the next 24 hours. Tomorrow night around this time I'll post a new design (also on sale), and mousepads will revert to their regular price.

The "19 Days of Edgar" Day 9

Jan. 9 Day 9 is now underway, and we're almost halfway there. Thanks again to everybody for supporting The Rots through this strenuous period. O.K. Strenuous for me, maybe not so much for you.

To catch up if you're just finding this blog...The 19 Days of Edgar celebrates the 19 days in January leading up to Edgar Allan Poe's 202nd birthday by offering a different product every day at a discounted price. You can read the details here.

Today's stuff: Posters

Horizontal Edgar and Chloe poster

Vertical Edgar and Chloe poster

Poster of just Chloe doing her Twitter thing






All of these posters will be offered through Zazzle at the lowest price they will allow me to for the next 24 hours. After that, the price reverts back to its undiscounted state, and tomorrow around this time I'll post something new in the Edgar and Chloe store.

The "19 Days of Edgar" Day 8

Jan. 8 Here's your next batch of Edgar stuff to keep you occupied until his birthday on January 19.

Binders (1", 1 1/2" and 2" deep)


Binders will be available for the lowest price that Zazzle will allow for the next 24 hours. Tomorrow evening around this time I'll post something new to the Edgar and Chloe store, and these binders will revert to their regular prices.

You can read about the 19 Days of Edgar here.

The "19 Days of Edgar" Day 7

Jan. 7 And welcome to day seven!

In celebration of the upcoming 202nd birthday of Edgar Allan Poe, The Rots have new stuff on sale daily in the Edgar and Chloe store.

Today's prize: Stickers. Three-inch stickers come in sheets of six, and 1½-inch stickers come in sheets of 20 for the same price.

Edgar and Chloe

and just Chloe




Zazzle's 20.11% off promotion still applies until midnight tonight, and that's in addition to the sale price already listed. And don't forget, free shipping on orders of $50 or more.

Both of these stickers will be available for the lowest price that Zazzle will allow for the next 24 hours. Tomorrow evening around this time I'll post something new in the Edgar and Chloe store, and stickers will revert to their regular price.

You can read about the 19 Days of Edgar here.

Leo's Pub and Grille

My napkin @ Leo's Pub & Grille, 202 N Diamond St, Mount Pleasant PA.

The Art of Tim Burton

Guess what I totally got for Christmas!

(Hint:)

(My family rocks!)

And as if my family doesn't rock enough, I actually received two (!) copies for Christmas! But those nice people at Steeles Publishing were great. They took back the extra copy even though it wasn't within their return time frame (of seven days!).

So I guess it's looking like Steeles Publishing rocks, too!

[Please check back in February to see what my replacement gift for the duplicate book turned out to be. Oh, yeah.]

I've managed to look through about half of the book so far, and it looks really, really sharp. I have to keep wiping the drool off the pages, but still. Lots of fold-outs of extra long pages when drawings come in a series that needs to stay together. Lots of sketches that weren't meant to be seen by human eyes. Lots and lots of inspiration. And drool.

(an example of one of those massive fold-outs)

One tiny problem might be the black linen cover which will definitely get dirty from all the fondling and which will definitely be impossible to keep clean. I made a dust jacket for mine out of an old sheet of black drawing paper that I decided I'm never going to draw on.

I'm a nerd, I know. But I'm a happy, happy nerd with an awesome book with massive fold-outs and drool warming my drawing desk. I've learned to deal with it.

The "19 Days of Edgar" Day 6

Jan. 6 Well, so far, so good. We've made it to day six, and everybody's still insane. Celebrating Edgar Allan Poe's 202nd birthday coming up on January 19, and each day there's something new and on sale in The Rots' Edgar and Chloe store.

Day six is pretty straight-forward: Magnets.

Square magnets: (one size of 2")

and round magnets (three sizes of 1¼" 2¼" and 3")

Zazzle is still offering an additional 20.11% off if you order by midnight tomorrow night and use the code 2011NEWYEARS when you order. Not only that, you'll get free shipping if you order $50 or more!

Magnets will be available for the lowest price that Zazzle will allow for the next 24 hours. Tomorrow evening around this time I'll post something new in the Edgar and Chloe store, and magnets will revert to their regular price.

You can read about the 19 Days of Edgar here.

The "19 Days of Edgar" Day 5

Jan. 5 Ooh hoo! And welcome to day 5! Just celebrating the 202nd birthday of Edgar Allan Poe with some great deals on Rotty Edgar stuff.

First off, thanks to everybody for your support. I wasn't sure if all the work that would be going into this project would be worth it, but you're proving that it is. Thank you thank you!

Second off, day five is postcard day!

Postcard #1: Edgar and Chloe

Postcard #2: Chloe

Also included and coming in at #3: Postcard postage to send said postcards (make sure you choose $0.28 in the "Choose rate" option if you're in the United States)

In case you haven't heard, Zazzle is also offering 20.11% off your order (that's over and above the discount The Rots are offering) when you use the code 2011NEWYEARS as you check out. This discount code will expire Thursday, January 6.

Postcards and postage will be available for the lowest price that Zazzle will allow for the next 24 hours. Tomorrow evening around this time I'll post something new in the Edgar and Chloe store, and these products will revert to their regular price.

You can read about the 19 Days of Edgar here.

P.S. Did you know there will be a full moon this year on the 19th? Cool.

The "19 Days of Edgar" Day 4

Jan. 4 The fourth day of the 19 Days of Edgar to celebrate Edgar Allan Poe's 202nd birthday is here!

Any Edgar and Chloe greeting or note card, along with its matching envelope

and the postage to send your cards.

And remember, take an additional 20.11% off your order if you use the code 2011NEWYEARS when you check out. The 20.11% discount is in addition to the sale price.

Cards, envelopes and postage will be available at the lowest discounted price that Zazzle will allow for the next 24 hours. Tomorrow evening around this time I'll post something new in the Edgar and Chloe store, and these products will revert to their regular price.

You can read about the "19 Days of Edgar" here.

The "19 Days of Edgar" Day 3

Jan. 3 The third Edgar and Chloe product available for purchase to celebrate Edgar Allan Poe's 202nd birthday is actually two separate mug designs, both on sale.

Edgar and Chloe on any mug you wish

and the pen and ink Chloe on any mug you wish

And remember, take an additional 20.11% off your order if you use the code 2011NEWYEARS when you check out. The 20.11% discount is in addition to the sale price.

Mugs will be available at the lowest discounted price that Zazzle will allow for the next 24 hours. Tomorrow evening around this time I'll post something new in the Edgar and Chloe store, and these mugs will revert to their regular price.

You can read about the "19 Days of Edgar" here.

The "19 Days of Edgar" Day 2

Jan. 2 The second Edgar and Chloe product available for purchase to celebrate Edgar Allan Poe's 202nd birthday is any Edgar and Chloe shirt, any color. Take an additional 20.11% off your order if you use the code 2011NEWYEARS when you check out. The 20.11% discount is in addition to the sale price.

Shirts will be available at the lowest discounted price that Zazzle will allow for the next 24 hours. Tomorrow evening around this time I'll post something new in the Edgar and Chloe store, and these shirts will revert to their regular price.

Edgar and Chloe Shirts:
http://www.zazzle.com/edgar_and_chloe_shirts-235370390904950394?rf=238975150560530933

You can read about the "19 Days of Edgar" here.

The "19 Days of Edgar" Has Begun!

Jan. 1 The first Edgar and Chloe product available for purchase to celebrate Edgar Allan Poe's 202nd birthday is a 4¼" coaster with a cork backing and matte finish. The coaster is made of sandstone so the printing has that worn-in, antiquey kind of feel to it.

Coasters will be available at the lowest discounted price that Zazzle will allow for the next 24 hours. Tomorrow evening around this time I'll post something new in the Edgar and Chloe store, and these coasters will revert to their regular price.

Edgar and Chloe Coasters: http://www.zazzle.com/edgar_and_chloe_coasters-174398027097701228?rf=238975150560530933

You can read about the "19 Days of Edgar" here.

The Empty Keg

My napkin @ The Empty Keg, 129 Erie St, Edinboro PA.

Edgar and Chloe: They're finished now, I swear

O.K. Edgar's finished now, and this time I mean it. All that's left is the varnish, which I'll wait to do in a few days after I'm sure the paint is completely dry.

Edgar and Chloe will be participating in the "19 Days of Edgar" starting January 1 and running through the 19th. Read about the whole convoluted idea here. If you have any requests for what you would like to see Edgar and Chloe on, take a look at the complete list of possibilities over at Zazzle, and then let me know. Please tell me ASAP, as I'll be designing mostly in advance of the post dates to make sure I have all the kinks worked out before posting. The first selection will be available December 31, somewhere around 9 pm.

Must...go...design...

Rotty Gingybread Men

Biting off they little heads,

Nibble on they tiny feet.

Santa Claus: Gingerbread Man Serial Killer

Having been caught in the act by three unsuspecting children, Mr. Claus turned himself in to authorities early Christmas morning after a lengthy standoff. The children were immediately sequestered for psychological evaluation.

Edgar's coat, as I see it

The latest installment of "Where's Edgar?":

He may be finished...or not. I'm not sure just yet. I'll have a look at him tomorrow and see what he has to say.

Edgar's vest has come to an end

Worked some more on Edgar and Chloe this afternoon. I would consider Edgar's vest finished (the close-up is below), but his coat is only underpainted at this point. I'm satisfied with how everything's turning out so far.

And I had an idea.

This whole painting was meant as a celebration of Edgar's birthday on January 19th. So starting January 1st (and running through the 19th, of course), I'm going to celebrate the "19 days of Edgar" by creating a different product on Zazzle each day using this painting for each of the designs. I'll upload one design each evening and give everybody a heads up of each product's availability. After the notice, everyone has 24 hours to purchase that specific product at a reduced price. After 24 hours a new product will be released, and the price on the product from the day before will repost to its regular price.

That's it. That's my light bulb for today.

As you were.

Edgar's getting dressed now

Worked a little more on the Edgar painting this afternoon. His shirt and tie are finished, but his vest is still in under-painting mode (it won't be green when I'm finished with it).

I do my painting in our dungeon so lighting isn't so great for taking photos. I have to use a flash which ends up reflecting off the paint, and I have to play with the lighting setup to minimize that whole issue.

The first image here shows the whole painting, bad lighting and all, and the second one is a close-up with more accurate color.

Edgar and his raven, Chloe

Edgar painting in progress:

I think Chloe is finished, so all that's left now are the clothes.

D's Six Pax and Dogz

My napkin (they use paper towels) @ D's Six Pax and Dogs, 1118 S Braddock Ave, Pittsburgh PA.

Radisson

My post-it note pad @ the Radisson, 101 Radisson Dr, Pittsburgh PA.

Free bookmarks for your #AllHallowsRead givings

Neil Gaiman has proposed a new tradition of giving scary books to someone you know for Halloween. Buy them new, buy them used or give one of your own. Regift if you must.

Of course, my version is a little more twisted: I borrowed a book from my local library and, after having read it myself, I renewed the borrow and loaned it to a friend. The book was Shirley Jackson's We Have Always Lived in the Castle.

I loved the book, first of all (it was first suggested that I would by somebody else). My library's version was from 1967, so the cover actually was as bad as the link above (the new cover looks much, much better). But the page corners were bad, too. Frighteningly bad. The top corners were damaged from years and years of people folding them down to mark their spot. Over and over. Page after page.

Not good, guys. Maybe a little respect is in order.

Here's my work-around:

1. Download these bookmarks for free
2. Print them out
3. Rip them out along the dotted lines
4. Give them along with your All Hallow's Read scary book giftings

Did I mention they're free?

Edgar's got some hair

Here's the latest update on the Edgar Allan Poe painting. Not a whole lot more to show, but it was an aggravatingly longish day trying to get it close to what I wanted. Just added some hair and a little of the Raven feathering. If you missed it, the first progress report would be on a previous blog post here.