Meet me in person? I'm so excited for you!

Hey there, I'm speaking at the Indiana Author Fair December 5th, at, I believe, 2:30. I'm also there from 12 until 4 to autograph any books you want autographed. They don't even have to be mine. Heck, if there are any ladies out there who want their bodies autographed, come on by. My wife can't be totally vigilant the whole 4 hours.

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Are you in part of the world, Singapore or Eastern Europe for instance, that makes it difficult to order the Bent Objects book? I can't vouch for them or anything, but I've heard from a couple of people who have used The Book Depository. They even claim free worldwide delivery.

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The winner of the limerick contest from last week? Very challenging to judge. The final three were a toss-up. I finally went with this one-

espyle said...

In November, the turkey thought, "Damn,
I don't want to be served with the yams."
So he cooked pig for folks
As he told them great jokes,
And he was spared for being such a ham.

If any of the other limerick contestants who entered would like one, I'd like to send you one of the holiday cards from me to you. Maybe even a worthless doodle in there also. Just send me your address.

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Don't forget to order your doodled-in Bent Objects book . Order now and it'll be there in plenty of time for whatever holiday you want it for.

Holiday Card Giveaway

30 Bent Objects Holiday cards go to the best limerick having to do somehow with Thanksgiving. Winner announced and cards mailed Monday.



Still plenty of time to order a doodled-in book too! (and I do doodle in them a bit more than the example I photographed).

An old photo for now.

Caribbean Jerk

Photographed with a decent point and shoot on tripod.
Lighting- Under cabinet radio/cd player light, plus two flashlights.

I was hoping to get a shot done over the weekend. Even had everything ready to go, but it's the first in a very long time that will be photographed outside, and things didn't work out. Instead, here's an oldie that didn't make it into the book, pretty much because I couldn't find the original big file of it. That's never happened before, but no, I'm not the most organized guy you will ever come across.

I saw this photo on Reddit.com once, and all the comments were pretty entertaining. One person didn't believe that there was really a seasoning with that name, but I can assure you that there is.

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Also- Christoph Niemann is an awesome, creative, son-of-a-gun. More proof here- Leaves.

And what's worse than being an athlete who is hurt bad enough to be carried off by stretcher? Being carried off by these guys.

The Neatorama Bent Objects Book Contest

Interview and giveaway here.

If you've ever wondered about what goes into a Bent Objects image, I go into some detail about the making of one of my latest.




People have wondered if I still have holiday cards. I've sold quite a few, but I had to order 2500 so that I could sell them for a reasonable price. So yes, still have probably half of them left. Here.

Also, yes, I still have books for sale that I'll doodle in.

Neatorama-bot

I recently had a request from the folks over at Neatorama to make my version of their Neatorama-bot (their mascot). This is what I came up with. I had it juggling some letters, but it looks a lot better without them.
Neatorama is having a Bent Objects book giveaway starting today. Maybe you should give it a try?

Interview and contest link.

At Target

photo courtesy Tim Wilsbach

Here's one of the cards available at Target stores now. Just a few Bent Object cards now, but there will be 4 or 5 more next year.
Some people might think this is too cute, and doesn't have quite the same edge as most of my stuff. That may be true, but remember- she is serving herself up to be eaten as soon as the candle is blown out.



Tonight's the night I'll be at Big Hat Books in Broad Ripple, Indiana for a book signing. Lots to do there tonight besides me being there though. And some things are being done for a good cause-
Tonight. Broad Ripple, Indiana.

Happily working on a commission.

I made a few images for OXO International a while back, and I'm happy to say that they've asked me to do another. I'm thrilled that they picked the particular idea that I came up with. It'll make it here eventually on the blog, and it's gonna be pretty good, I think.

Here's a party invite image I made for them. A "Get ready to party" idea.

If there are any other peeps willing to commission a person who is wired a little weird, please get in touch. Our bank account could use an infusion, because we like brand name cereals (we're classy like that).

A couple more things-

Some people don't know that my book is hardback. I feel happy, and lucky, to say that it is. Still plenty of time to order 1, or 2, or 50 for holiday gifts.

And I guess this video was viral a few years ago, but that must have been before my time here on the internet. It's a video of a flash mob dancing to a Sound of Music song. Haven't seen it? It's cooler than it may sound, and it will make you happy.

Holiday Cards

Well, I did it. I had some Bent Objects holiday cards printed. I had just a few thousand made, so they will be unique.
They were delivered to the house a few days ago, and the printer did a very nice job with them. They're A2 size ( 5.5'' x 4.25'').



They're multiple use, because they're blank on the inside, so they can be Thank You cards, Christmas or New Year's party invitations, or Happy Holiday cards. Versatile is good way to describe them, I think.

I also like blank cards so I can personalize them a bit with a "Happy Holidays!", Season's Greetings!", "Merry Christmas to our good friends ____", or "Happy New Year To _____!" You can have it say whatever you want without trying to think of something extra to write under an already printed saying. That's the trouble I have with cards anyway. Maybe you're more talented in this area.


Oh, and did I mention that the cards are 100% recycled? Yep. And the envelopes? Also 100% recycled. Try finding that in the big box store down the street.

I'll be shipping these priority mail, so they'll be at your home in no time. If you should be interested in buying some, the prices are as follows for the U.S. --

(edit-Sorry, had to raise shipping rates on some of these. I miscalculated.)

18 cards and envelopes for $17.95 + $5 shipping. ($22.95 total)

30 cards and envelopes for $24.95 + $8 shipping. ($32.95 total)

50 cards and envelopes for $38.95 + $8 shipping. ($46.95 total)

For Canada, the shipping is $9.
For my international friends outside of North America, the shipping is $18 dollars.

You can pay using the donate button on the sidebar (there is a section there at Paypal for you to leave info for me). If you have any questions, email me at BentObjects@gmail.com.

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edit- Yes, I know there will be some peeps out there asking for Hanukkah cards ( and I have that one photo from last year), but I shot my budget on this one.

A Saturday Morning Cartoon

I got this idea from my friends over at the d'ArteBoard. No it's not wire wrapped around objects, but this is my blog, so there. In the U.S., as long as I can remember, Saturday morning cartoons are something kids look forward to watching while they eat their sugary cereals.

Milton was a classic cartoon that I'd watch after I got home from school in the 70's. It's Halloween today, so it's a good fit. At least watch the opening song. It's awesome.

Milton The Monster - The Hearse Thief
Uploaded by DwightFrye. - Classic TV and last night's shows, online.

Our 12 year old and I both have gmail accounts, and she gets upset when she goes to check her email on our laptop, and I haven't signed out. The other day I received this email from her gmail address, but it wasn't from her, it was from Ted from gmail, or so he said.

(One more thing, I'm always telling her to delete some of her old messages, which are many, but she refuses.)

Dear G-mail participant,

Every once and a while we check on our G-mail users to

make sure everything is going smoothly. We have only one

complaint, you have not been signing out. We have no other

complaints and we believe that we are lucky to have

you using our sight. It may seem as if you are getting this

form someone else but, we are sending this to you from

the person who first filed the complaint that you were not

signing out. We can not say this person because it is being

sent to all the others who don't sign out. We will still let

you use G-mail, we just like to make G-mail a better

experience for everyone. Please enjoy using G-mail

and please sign out.

Sincerely,

Ted Lamasso

Remember- There is no need to delete because G-mail is big.

Thank you again, Ted.

Have a wonderful day.

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One more thing- The art of Kevin Van Aelst

Leaves and Leaving

Some music to go with it- Miles plays some "Autumn Leaves"...

Doodling books while I look for leaves...

Searching for some good leaves for the next Bent Objects image.

Only the best leaf will do for my Bent Objects visitors.

Meanwhile, while I'm coming up with an idea involving leaves, several people have asked about signed copies of the book. I'll tell you the truth, trying to arrange appearances (speaking/book signing) is not something I have enjoyed. My talk/signing at The Indiana Historical Society December 5th will be it for now.

But I have another possibility for you-

I'm offering autographed copies that I'll gladly personalize,

with doodles (I don't draw, I doodle)

of all sorts for $30 + shipping.

Each copy will be unique as far as the doodling is concerned. Copies without doodles and just an autograph are $20 + shipping, but my feelings will probably be really hurt.

U.S. shipping is $4, Canada and Mexico- $7, and everywhere else is $15.

I'm also still offering personalized, signed book plates for just $2 each total.

Use the "Donate" button on the sidebar to pay the $30 plus appropriate shipping.

You can email me at BentObjects@gmail.com (Go ahead, don't be scared, I'm a fairly nice fella).

Wish me luck with the leaves!

I'm drinking lots of caffeine and thinking about Autumn! Such hard work.

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Bitchin Lifestyle has an interview of me here. Very cool site.

So the winner is autumn leaves

Autumn Leaves? Sounds like the name of a heart-breaking starlet. It's also the object of my next Bent Objects image thanks to your votes. I'm going out to see what I can rake up now.

While I try to figure out what to do with leaves, read this review of my book and think of all the many people that you know who would love it as a gift. Kathy over at The Junk Drawer, was also nice enough to talk about it.

What should the next object be?

Hey, time to tell me what to use as an object in a Bent Objects photo. Leave an idea in the comment section. Sometime early Saturday morning (eastern standard time, U.S.), I'll pick my favorite 5 items for you to vote on.

What are you waiting for? You have about 12 hours.

Edit- Times up! No more comments. 31 comments are pretty good for a late Friday night. Thanks!

Fruit with life experience.

I made this fella up quite a while ago to show the people of American Greetings Card Company. He's definitely one of my smallest Bent Objects "people" yet, and he's lasted a long time off to the side of my photo table.

American Greetings is producing several cards with Bent Objects on them, to be sold exclusively by Target. I've seen a couple of them in the stores already, with some more to come next year. Pretty surreal seeing my stuff in there.

I'm really thankful for the reviews that I've gotten on the book so far. Feel free to tell all your friends. Of course, maybe you don't want to tell them, because you're planning on buying a copy to give them as a present? Yes, that sounds like a fantastic idea! Good thinking on your part! You are so awesome!

I'm giving a presentation, a bit like the one here, December 5th at the Indiana Historical Society, with loads of other authors. I'll be signing books for several hours, and I hope anyone in the area will stop by and say hi (it's free). I'm also on the lookout for other bookstores and such who would like me to do the same thing in their super cool establishments. Keep in mind, I'll be driving my old clunker, so distance can be an issue!

Also- The most wacky, cool review you will ever read about milk on Amazon.

Today, Bent Objects, The Secret Life of Everyday Things" is in stores.

Well, here we are, very nearly 400 posts after this blog first appeared September 10, 2006. Today, I'll stop by a couple of bookstores to try and find copies of my book (and then put them on a table near the front door). Yes, today is the first day that it's officially in stores. Hard for me to believe. It's been a long process.

This photo of this pencil bug and paintbrush fly was part of my first post, long before the thought of a book crossed my mind, and even before I thought of using my kinda strange sense of humor.

If you have enjoyed my many attempts here over the last three years to add wire to objects, and end up with something interesting, I hope you'll take a look at the book. I'm very, very relieved to say that the early reviews from people who have already received the book in the mail have been very good.

So, I'll keep making things for you to enjoy here on the blog,

but I hope you all will help me out by visiting a bookstore and taking a look,

or ordering the book from one of the many links on my sidebar on the right.

And if you have an uncle or cousin with a good sense of humor?

Well, the holidays are just around the corner! (Yes. I said it!)

Best,

Terry Border

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Jon, over at Five Rules For Life, reposted my five rules. They work really well for me (when I can manage to follow them myself).