Ive been Tagged!

For ages now I have watched in shear wonder at the tagging epidemic to hit blogland in recent years and wondered how I had managed to surf just under the radar, that is until recently. In the last 10 days I have been tagged 3-4 times by lots of gorgeous blogland pals. The very talented EmmaLamb was the most recent and I am going to rock this post out with the obligatory 7 things you might not know bout me as per the tag request. ( will throw in some Ger refrences for good measure too as we are now the fearsome twosome. ;)

1. I love all things RANDOM, I'm insanely against anything too pristine,perfect or symmetrical. I love things to be a little off centre, a bit quirky and with a bit of a sporadic finish ( Ger on the other hand, loves precision, fine tuning, and perfection. ;) really its just a case of yin and yang here now, we balance each other out. (thankfully Gers aversion to tatter is subsiding and I may have created a monster folks. lol

2. My favourite food is curry, even though I was rared on a typical Irish diet of boiled veg and spudz. I always gravitate towards spicy food, love flavour and really enjoy tasting foods from all different cultures. Ger loves chocolate and even manages to sneak in a bit every day, despite being fabulously taut and trim. grrrrr!

3. My favourite music would have to be songs from the musicals, I LOVE musicals, Les Miserables, Phantom, Miss Saigon, I would safely say its my ideal and most perfect night out. When my beaux and I went to New York in the Spring, our fave memory was the night on Broadway at Phantom. :) I know that Ger enjoys a big variety of music and recently went to Jack L's concert at home. We both enjoy a spot of Michael Bublé too though when we are working together in the studio.

4. I spent years dancing in my Twin Aunts Dance Studio, performing around the country as part of a dance troupe. I was also a Colour Guard in a local marching band which I can safely say were some of the best years of my life. Ger was an avid gymnast when she was younger and has been a bonafida yogi now for about 10 years. Seriously guys there is not a single part of that womans body that she hasn't seen from 6 different angles. Shes my very flexible friend. :)

5. I have an unhealthy addiction to Lucozade. Its bubbly and sweet and fizzy and orange and .............mmmmmmmm (sorry you lost me there for a moment) well I don't smoke or have any other nasty addictions (not counting in my work of course) so whats a girl to do. Gers addiction, hmm let me think about this one.... yup .. that would have to be the ol Coffee. We had a joke recently in the studio when we were tackling a very tricky studio custom order and I had handed it over to the voice of reason at this stage. We both knew it was gonna be a tricky one and she looked at me with this dead pan look on her face and gently stated. Im gonna need a coffee for this one...... well I had to laugh, I said if thats all you need to get that number finished Ger I will gladly bring a bucket of the stuff up here.

6. I cry EVERY TIME I see "City of Angels", "The Notebook" and "Watership Down" ( the latter one is an old animation about a den of rabbits folks, it doesn't get much worse than that. lol) And yes Ger is equally as blubbery as me. Well we are family so Im blamin the genes.

7. Lastly............. I don't drive yet. * insert shame here* I have a long and painful block against driving and every year I promise myself I will do it this year. alas....... I never seem to get round to it. I cycle and walk everywhere. I have always lived in the centre of things so its never too far to get around. HOWEVER.... * insert drumroll here* I have been recently sussing out insurance quotes etc to get my very first car and hopefully I will be able to rock out in a Nissan Figaro, a ninetees concept car made using a retro 40's style shell, its absolutely beautiful and very in keeping with my antique longings. Ger on the other hand has been driving forever and is a dab hand with directions. * insert wink here* ;)

xxx

thanks for the tags everyone, Ihope you enjoyed those too.

Bonzie & Ger

Another Burst of Color/Colour

The funny thing with Color/Colour (I have to write both you guys, when I write it in the european way it looks like I can't spell to all my etsy pals) ;)

.........sorry as I was saying, the funny thing with the C word is that I am always drawn to muted out olde worlde colors as I mentioned before but now and again a bright and beautiful person comes along and orders a custom order that injects a real burst of color into the studio. It is actually very uplifting when this kind of piece is in the studio, in fact if I'm sitting at the work desk my eye keeps wandering across the room as if magnetically drawn to the piece on the mannequin in bright colors. It makes me ponder the fact that perhaps there is something in the whole color therapy phenomenon.... well it certainly does something to me for sure and this month I have Beth and Ash to thank for inspiring such a colorful project in a matching venetian burst set of wrap and bag. We are hoping to rock a few sets into the shop for Christmas as I think they would make a really special gift.

Colonel Sander's Home State

Over my daughter's Fall break (four day weekend), we made a trip to our neighboring state of Kentucky, and took her to Mammoth Cave ( it is a HUGE cave system ). I'd taken one of the tours as a kid some thirty years ago, and my wife and daughter both enjoyed it. We also went Alpine Sliding, hiking, biking, (gee, this makes us sound so out-doorsy and active! ).


I left a 2 buck tip for the house-keeping person at our Hotel in the hands of a plastic fork. I can only imagine the reaction upon sighting my generosity - "What the *&$@ is this?"




On the way back we spent the afternoon at the Louisville Zoo (where we were excited to see a colony of naked mole rats, because we're fans of Kim Possible). It was there that I left a clothes pin bird that I spent way too much time making in the car, and then in a hotel room.

Oh, the terrible feeling of rejection. I subtly set the bird down near one of the exhibits with a sticky note in it's mouth clearly reading "Take Me Home. Courtesy Bent Objects". So we're heading back out of the exhibit just in time to see a young mother noticing it, and bending down to read the note. My wife is whispering to me as we walk by, "Oh look! Oh look!", because we've never seen anyone actually find one of my wire things. I take a peek back after we walk 10 yards or so, to see she and her child walking away with the bird still there. Quite humbling. Ha!!


(it is kinda scary ugly looking)
--------------------------------------------
On a separate note- cool dioramas.

Its Arrived, Belle Armoire

Guys,

Its arrived, one of the big secrets that I was holding in for ages until its launch was the arrival of the November/December issue of the incredibly stunning Belle Armoire Magazine. I have joined the team as a columnist for this awesome publication and bring you guys a Bonzie article monthly on the joys of tatter couture in all its deconstructed glory. For those of you who love all things worn, frayed yet beautiful why not bag your own copy here to read the Tatter Couture Article on Corsets.

I was super chuffed to learn that my piece was adorning the front cover of a magazine that I have admired for so long. For those of you who adore creativity, craft, and innovative design, Belle Armoire is a truly special resource of inspiration and stunning pieces to drool over. Here's hoping you like the Bonzie section too you guys. :)

x

bonzie & Ger

Appetite for Destruction

Long story short, I wasn't planning to post this yet, but it's what I have available.  So here's the web premier of my Indianapolis Museum of Contemporary Art installation.  I call it "Appetite for Destruction".  In case you can't tell, I made it while thinking of the big event that's happening in the U.S. in early November.  

This one is a good one to click on to see up close.  

I hope you enjoyed it.  The real thing can be seen in the window of the museum through the rest of the year, I believe.  Like I said before, go to the bar across the street for some good food if you make the trip.  If you want to go inside, check for open hours.  Supposed to be a great show opening in November with a Hansel and Gretel theme.

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Right now I'm reading a book my brother gave me-  "The Yiddish Policeman's Union", by Michael Chabon.  Wow, what a book!  This guy can really string a few words together.

Literary Interpretation

All I know is that when this idea came to me, it "clicked" ( I had posted the larger character by itself awhile back, but I new it needed more) . By "clicked", I mean that in my mind, the idea works on at least a couple of levels. Whether it does for anyone else remains to be seen. I have my doubts!

I don't like expanding on what I'm thinking though, so nobody hold their breath on that one.

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On another note, Congrats to Matt Green for getting half of the U.K. to vote for his entry in the last contest! ha! ]

Matt and the two mediocre prize winners need to send me their addresses. Yes, I really am giving away the Starbucks card, and Victoria's Secret Panty card. If they aren't claimed in the next week, I can't make any promises that I won't use them myself (coffee for me, underwear for my wife).

The Kat that got the Cream!

I wanted to share with you guys a wonderful client experience that we had recently with an absolutely gorgeous bride. Kat approached us to create a bolero for her wedding dress that would compliment her ensemble and we were honored to work with her on that.

Recently Kat got back in touch to share a pic of her on her wedding day that really made our day very special. I just love how this picture has caught Kat in such a state of happiness and obvious joy on her wedding day. I think she looks really stunning in her ensemble and we are so happy to have been a part of that day for Kat.

Thanks for sharing with us Kat some of the positivity you enjoyed on your day too! :) We would both like to take this opportunity to wish you and your new hubby a really magical life together and heres hoping our little bolero brought you guys the luck of the Irish too!

x

bonzie and Ger

Press Happenings!

Hi guys,

So after a long absense we are slowly returning to a more normal pace and hopefully getting stuck into more studio based work and regular updates while photo shoots and deadlines along with personal stuff took centre stage for a wee while.

We were pleasantly surprised (insert the word shocked here) to find an email from none other than the fashion editor from the daily mail informing us that they chose a piece from our line in our etsy shop to feature in an article about etsy and the wonderful world of web shopping!

I was blown away to find that articles like that can just surface like that out of the blue and they made a very dull monday something to smile about. ;)

I took some snaps of the paper to share it with you guys, not sure if its even legible but even to see it is fun too!

I hope your all keeping well, I have missed the chats and hope to keep you informed this week of all the goings on over the last manic week.

x

bonzie

Do your part and vote... for the winner of a wire bug.

[EDIT- Polls are closed]

Thanks to all who entered in our little contest give-away for the Paintbrush Bug. It's been an interesting couple of days of checking in on the new entries and comments.
--------------------------------- the winner will get this ^

It was ridiculously hard to narrow the finalists down. Many clever entries were eventually eliminated. Please feel free to curse my name when you don't find your entry in the space that follows, there's a good chance that it deserved to be included, but what can I say? For all the enjoyment that I get from reading the entries as they come in, it's all balanced out by the part where I have to narrow them down. For quite a while, I was going to give up and put them all up for a vote, but that would have been the coward's way out.
[ Edit - My wife saw my choices a half hour after I posted and didn't agree with a couple and wanted me to change something! Too late! ]

Please go to the sidebar to the right to vote.

The contestants-

#1.

punkin said...

Others are bending words into strings of artful thought.

I cannot bend my mind easily along those twists and turns.

My thoughts are visual, following curves of bent and twisted wire where the bits are as interesting as the whole. A conduit of thought.

#2.

Sam said...

My three-year-old son is currently fascinated with bugs and spiders. When I showed him this photo and said you wanted to give it away, he said,

"Why?"

And then,

"How did he DO that?"

From the mouths of babes.

#3.

Lucretius said...

There once was a wiry lass
Who wanted a romp in the grass,
But she got no elation
'Cause her reputation
Was being a paint in the ass.

#4.

artfuldaughter said...

“Zhey’ll sproot vings und fly avay!” mother would scream in her guttural accent...
Inexplicable, as we were from Connecticut.

Tend to your brush, or else.

Her prophecy proved apt. My brush, neglected, fled.

How I was rueful that day. Rueful. Full of rue. Damn my arrogance.

I paint no more.

#5.

blueright said...

A brush - my wand
for with to create
No!
A brush - an object
with secret life that must escape

#6.

mattgreen said...

Drosophila ferrodecorus

Habitat: well composed landscaped areas, often with streams in the foreground.

Ecology: often seen in the summer months predating on eisel and board. Dislikes damp or wet weather.

Status: in decline. Habitat threatened by electronic equipment and mice. Sustained collection and display by enthusiasts have exacerbated the decline.

#7.

AnneMarie said...

Prettily poised, the Parisian Paintbrush Pest pondered her predicament.
“In ipso facto,” she intoned, “I initially intended to
Navigate nearby. Notwithstanding my nervousness, I
Came to the crazy conclusion that a cross-continental cruise was
Exactly the essential elixir I should embrace.
An amazing affair arose, and I’m now artistic!
Unbelievable!”


(The first letter of each line spells the French word for paintbrush - pinceau.)

#8.

Dharam said...

This is a limerick I made using all 100 tiles of the Scrabble game. The last 'u' and 'g' are the blanks:


I joined a paintbrush bug,
Squeezed its fly-eyed mug;
As I received an ovation
For a complex narration,
I work well to get a hug!

------------------------------------------

and now- The following people have already one some mediocre prizes!


First of all, I must award this used Starbucks card that at one time was worth fifty dollars. I believe it still has a little over $2, maybe even $2.50 on it. Not enough to get one of those expensive drinks with the whipped cream on top, but enough to get a large Iced Americano (my personal drink), or maybe some chocolate covered graham crackers.

This work, which has too many words (there were a few good ones like that) to be in the running to win the bug, tickled my fancy anyway (plus, she's followed this blog for a looong time). Congratulations!

The Takeout Wench. said...

The paintbrush bug was no ordinary bug.

He taught Michelangelo how to make marble take on an illusion of flesh and muscle,

he taught Vermeer how to paint light,

he taught Monet how to match his brushstrokes to nature's mood,

and he taught Picasso to paint fearlessly, all his inner turmoils.

His last student was by far his favorite --

Suzy, aged three, who loved finger-painting suns and clouds and kitty-cats.

The paintbrush bug taught her to never forget the joy of creating.

Suzy turned 10 and started pencil-sketching, and then she turned 14 and started taking pictures. By 17 she was writing poetry, and in college she took up pottery. The paintbrush bug watched her fall in love, get married, and have children; he sat on her dresser, forgotten but glad.

Suzy never became as famous as Michelangelo, as enterprising as Vermeer, as refined as Monet, or as notorious as Picasso.

Still, she taught her children to create, and find happiness in it, as soon as they were old enough to finger-paint.

The paintbrush bug eventually disappeared from that spot on Suzy's dresser, never to be found --

Maybe if you're lucky, he'll land in your life next.

Next we have johanna, who posted a poem. I had a couple of entries this time that were kind of downers to tell you the truth. I prefer Bent Objects to be a happy, twisted little place (other than my occasional political rant), but I keep the door open in these contests to most anyone who wants to enter. Anyway, I picked johanna's entry for a special prize because because we had something for her that amused me.

Here's her entry-

johanna said...

Flowers Of Black
a poem



She stands in the middle of the grave

Her flesh turning white as she stands over her own body

She looks around her as she watches her family sob

She is desperate to tell her mother her soul is still alive

Scared that her family wont celebrate the same as before

Watching her father praying to the lord

Everybody with their heads down in one row

Laying flowers on the brown casket

There is no point for flowers

It doesnt make any sense to her

Flowers of black

Flowers are not supposed to die with her

Flowers of black

Every soul always come back

She stands next to her older brother

Wondering if she made him proud

One tear falls from his cheek

She catches that one tear in her pale hand

Feels the salty drop and rubs it on her cheek

Because all she feels is numbness

No emotion left in that soul

But she still feels the warmth in her family

She knows they love her

She died too young but accomplished everything she wanted

She is just so surprised the random people around her

The love is in the air

Even if its love with sadness

In minutes she sees all the flowers in that casket

Flowers of black

Every Hand, every touch she counted

Red flowers turned to flowers of black

Flowers of black

Her soul always comes back



Copyrighted 2007



By : Johee

Here's what I have for you, Johanna. It came in the mail two days ago, and it entitles the person with the card to a pair of free panties the next time you visit Victoria's Secret. You get to choose from white, whisper pink, ivory, buff, or black.

I want to give something away.

It's a paintbrush bug, from the days before I was doing more complex "narratives" with objects. It's been sitting on a shelf here at home for a few years, and it needs a home.


In the past, I've had contests for things. I'm always surprised at the efforts that people put forth for whatever freebies I post. I'm too lazy right now to link to it, but the time I gave away the free panty coupon for Victoria Secret might be my favorite. One things for sure though, these contests are my favorite part of having a blog.

In the past, I've asked for limericks, or haiku's ( though haiku's always get the short shrift because they're shorter). This time, I'm going to just limit you to fifty words or less and leave the rest up to you. A story, poem, song, however you feel moved.

In the end, I'll put the finalists up for a vote, because trying to judge these things myself can be fun, but I don't want that kind of pressure this time.

Please, only one try per person. We'll have a vote Thursday and Friday to find out the winner. Have fun!

Gothic Nights

We are working on adding a darker vein to the collection this season as winter and halloween approach. In actual fact I have seen a wee rise in the number of brides looking for dark/black wraps and boleros to compliment ivory/white wedding dresses. This is a really interesting alternative bridal trend emerging and brings a whole new meaning to the term, black tie wedding!

Gals, Ger and I are heading up the country this Sunday for another photoshoot adventure with a bust of more stock! It is staged at an antique manor estate which I am burstin to see. I love haunted olde worlde Manor Houses! The decor , the atmosphere, the wallpaper! lol

I am really looking forward to a roadtrip and feels a bit like an adventure coming on! I will keep you posted how it goes.

x

Bonzie & Ger

An apple, and a few words from me.

So, today I'm depressed.   Probably part of the reason is finishing the project of the museum window installation (I don't know about you, but after my initial "high" of finishing a big project, a bit of depression comes along and evens things out).  The other part is this ridiculous election campaign that we have going on in the U.S. right now.  

I just erased two rather wordy paragraphs to quickly get to my point-  We now have people in our country who seem to believe that one of our presidential candidates is a terrorist (?!) because that's how his opponents are trying to label him.  The downward spiral of intelligence is frightening.  Then again, maybe I just gave people ( media, politicians, and general public) too much credit in the first place.  

Anyway, here's another one for the kids.  Maybe they can straighten this mess out in their lifetimes.  Now I'm going to make some tea.  I'll be fine.  Really.

 A is for Apple.  

Finishing my art installation today.

Today I'll be down at IMOCA finishing the installation piece that I created for their front window. I hope those of you around the Indianapolis area will be able to drop by during the next few months and check it out.   

Right across the street from the museum is a bar/pub that has a really good beef brisket barbeque sandwich.  I recommend it.  Especially if it's a nice day and you can sit on the balcony.

That is all.

All things Velvet!

Lately I have been really drawn to velvet as a fabric. I seem to be searching it out, rooting through piles to come up with some vintage velvets to work with. One of the newest editions to the shop has been our new velvet tudor style boleros with theatrical sized corsage embellishment. I am looking forward to rocking these babies out in Gold, ivory, grey, merlot, red, fawn, teal.......... basically any colour I can get my hands on in a rich sumputous velvet.

This piece is also going to debut in a really awesome PR piece very soon! !! stay tuned. ;)

Bonzie & Ger

I call him Rex

Edit- something to be added, as soon as I figure it out.