The Fear Behind the Smiles

The Latest Greatest Things Since Sliced Bread....

As anyone who knows me can tell you, I LOVE perfumes. I make my own a lot of the time using pure essential oils in either a jojoba or sweet almond oil base, but I also am a hardcore patron of perfume shops on Etsy. The folks on there have a talent for mixing scents and love doing it. Good energy equals good scents.

Some of my favorite Etsy-based perfumeries include Wiggle Perfume, For Strange Women, and my most recent love: Solstice Scents. 

While I'm at it, I'm going to give some more shoutouts to my fave Etsy shops.

Lazy Mare Rustic Threads is my go-to gal when I need something both comfortable and flouncy. I'm a hippie deep down under my dark crunchy goth exterior, I suspect. Or rather, a guppie, since I would have already made the transition seamlessly to yuppie by now were I a true hippie. Gothic yuppie = Guppie. Wear it proud, my Nurock-wearing weekend warriors. But I digress....

White Magick Shoppe is on the Etsy faves list, but I'm waiting to give a full review. I went to it because I saw it listed on Solstice Scents as a recommended shop, so I have no doubt I'll be as ecstatically pleased with my purchases as I was when I got my Solstice Scents package today.

For those not yet addicted to Etsy, give it a go. There are some amazingly talented people (I'm modest, I know :)), and often you'll be able to ask the shop owner for something unique and just for you. 

If interested/curious about what I do on Etsy:

http://xirconnia.etsy.com - Smiling Goth Shop, aka dark art, fanciful jewelry, occasional perfume oils, and all out debauchery

http://CinnamonZen.etsy.com - Cinnamon Zen has higher end products featuring Sterling Silver, more all-natural perfumes, soy wax candles scented with essential oils, and inspiring lighter art

http://BizarreYarns.etsy.com - Bizarre Yarns has just that. Unusual yarns both in appearance and in fiber content. I work with alternative fibers a lot, such as corn silk, soy silk, seacell, milk protein (aka latte silk or milk silk). Before they get posted to the shops, my handspun skeins have to pass the touch test, meaning they not only have to look good, but they have to feel like something I would wear against my skin. I generally shop around for the best prices for roving, which allows me to pass on the savings to my customer base, and makes me a happy camper to be able to offer quality yarns at affordable prices. I often do custom orders for yarns as well. I also make stitch markers and knitting/crocheting jewelry that is also functional.

Tip the Dancer...

I know I shouldn't be so attached to anything I intend to sell, however... I'm absolutely gaga (possibly even Lady GaGa) over a new yarn that I spun up and will be posting to my BizarreYarns Etsy shop called 'Tip the Dancer'. Yes, 'Tip the Dancer', shown here to the right.

It may possibly be that I'm thinking back about the days when I still very much had my Devil-may-care attitude firmly in place and would actually attend such establishments what where the dancers may or may not have been clothed. But in all seriousness, I really can't get over the beautiful mess this yarn is. It's got golden yellow mixed with black and glitter, aqua, pink, and deepest purples. I know, I know... I'm a yarn geek. I admit it.

I even listened to stripper music - well, my idea of how stripper music should sound, anyway, i.e. lots of grinding industrial beats that are just slow enough to do some awesome dips and seductive twirls - while spinning it up. It was really hard to not slap on a whole lot of black eyeliner and redder than red lipstick and go out to the nearest goth club and dance til dawn instead of spin yarn, but there you have it. And there I was, spinning yarn like a good grown up instead of partying til dawn.

Just looking at this yarn makes me giggle and want to hand it a dollar.

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Other updates in the mundane existence of an undergroundly popular writer (over 200 copies of my novels have sold to date, so thanks there, Kindle Krowd!)... well, the garden is happening. I built a retaining wall over the past week, and got a nice sunburn doing it. Today I'll be heading to Lowe's while all the good people of town are at church. Downside is we'll be hitting after-church breakfast crowd on the way home.

I also have some cool antique typewriter key jewelry posted to the Smiling Goth Etsy shop. 

So get over to the shops, buy my novels, and feel free to drop me a line. Always happy to meet a fan! Speaking of hearing from fans, met my first person who knew me by my novels while I was out shopping for fiber.

How. Friggin. Cool.

I've Been Bad....

 Instead of using my birthday weekend to update my Etsy shops and get stuff done, I did exactly the opposite. Epic win for fellow Etsians, as I splurged ALL over your shops. I think I may have bought an item from almost every Etsy shop this past week.

Mind you, the majority of my shopping spree was actually FOR my Etsy shops in way of supplies and such. I'm cool like that, and I try to keep prices in my shop as affordable as possible, since it's that kind of economy, I don't care who says it's getting better. If you're an artist in the US that isn't splashing paint for millions, then you're probably either poor or have a day job and a closet full of your art addictions. I can relate, totally.

So in an effort to support my fellow artists/Etsians, and keep my stash of fiber and jewelry-making supplies well-stocked with choices and various color palettes, I splurged. There was one purchase I made for me, though, as a happy birthday, and that was a little leather journal necklace and two leather journals from the Artreasury. I had been coveting both shops' wares for some time, and finally found a reason to break out the cash. 

For those who have yet to take the handmade plunge, it's something I highly recommend. We're out of the plaster hands and paste-dripping paper plates zone here, and the stuff posted to Etsy - the majority of it, anyway - is fantastic. Many shops will even do custom orders, so you get a truly unique gift at a usually decent price.

I also got a skein of INSANELY bright purple yarn to make socks for my mother. She's going to love it. I can just tell. If not, I'll distract her with the purple wind-up pinwheel pen I got her.

New shop updates on Etsy!

For those who have become fans of my work, be it on the printed page, on a canvas, entwined in metal around your body in some way, or wrapped two ply style in your latest fiber project, thank you!!!

At the Smiling Goth Shop, there's been a bunch of new stuff for both men and women to adorn their prettiness. Pictured at the left is one of two adjustable antique typewriter key rings.

There are also two new tie tacks available for the menfolks, and of course cufflinks and various other goodies.

There's also perfume oils and art. So hurry up over before someone else gets it!!

At Bizarre Yarns,  there's a bunch of new nom-worthy yarns. Now that the weather is finally clearing up and WARMING up, I was able to set the twist to all the yarn I've been spinning up during the cold snaps. Pictured to the right it a sproingy, smooshy newbie to the shop I call Blue Hawaiian after the uber yum drink of the same name. Can't wait til I can start getting out into the yard again, being able to lay under a tree in the shade with a good book.

Not sure why, but this winter seemed longer than usual. At least in a few weeks I'll be able to head back out into the yard and get the garden underway again, as well as pull out my canvasses, spinning wheel, and laptops and sit in the fresh air. Ahhh... bliss!

Like Clockwork Orange....

The latest creation in the Smiling Goth Shop on Etsy.

It features an antique skeleton key and a working reproduction of an 1882 pendant watch. Roman numerals, swirly watch hands, and a skeleton clockwork back displayed under a glass magnifying crystal. 

It really is a working piece of art, melding Victorian style into a grittier steampunk base.

Home for the Holidaze....

And so it begins again...

The mad dash, the holiday rush. The flu season.

As I write this, I have the song 'Drowning' by Lost Signal stuck in a perpetual loop inside my head, as if this post has a soundtrack. Well, hell, why not? My life has always had a serendipitous soundtrack, so why not this post?

Spent turkeyday traveling all over PA. In terms of states, it's about as long to traverse as Virginia it seems, and 81 is like the Twilight Zone in some places. I still swear Forksville, PA was a Twilight Zone episode that I just didn't see.

While visiting the family I got to finish the scarf pictured above. It's part of my friend Debbie's Christmas present. I got her something else, too... just in case she's reading this. :)

Also got started on a beaded lace scarf made from the Scheherazade yarn I spun up a while back. So far so good.

Got the PDF proof in my inbox today from the super top secret anthology project I'm a part of. It's set for release in March, so details will be coming sooner rather than later. I'm happy to say I am still the chick at the sausage fest on that project, and a greater group of writer-types couldn't have been hoped for. Reading through the stories and checking out the amazing talent, I can only say that I feel honored and small by comparison to these will-be literary giants.

My stories in the anthology will feature some outtakes from my novels, along with some brand new stuff that - get this - has NOTHING to do with vampires! Yeah... write three vampire novels and people start to think you only write vampire novels, never realizing the swimming pool also has a deep end.

And speaking of things literary, Kindle sales have jumped quite a bit. At a $1.99, with Amazon's demonic discounts all over the place, it's impossible to say I've made any cash in the Kindle endeavor, but my novels have at least ended up in someone's Kindle archive, waiting til they get to read my section.

Other new stories available for an almighty dollar are:

Enoch's Devil

Love of Addiction

The Lazarus Stone

Be sure to check out the main titles in Kindle edition as well, if Kindle's your thing:

NEMESIS

LAMIA

THE TOWER

MEMORIES THAT COST A LIFETIME: THE IMMORTAL WAR COLLECTION

And if you're like me, and prefer to read hard copy, you can find all of the Immortal War titles directly at the Smiling Goth Bookstore. There's also some other goodies there, so check it out.

For those scrambling to find something for the special someones on their holiday lists, you should check out my Etsy shops: The Smiling Goth Shop, Bizarre Yarns, and Cinnamon Zen are bound to have something for everyone.

Holidays Approacheth...

Super top secret anthology stuff moves forward smoothly. Will start to record audio segments for the audio version as soon as the dust settles from the kitchen remodel and travel insanity.

So far I'm looking at travel to Philly twice in a matter of days. Decided to stay with the Wenchling and Adamantium for the weekend instead of going back and forth between central and eastern PA. Two birds and such.

Movie stuff also moves forward. I'll be meeting with the producer over Thanksgiving to go over details and to meet face to face. Very excited to start on that project.

Research and outlining for the next story, possible novel, continues. Have fragments sprawled across the art room that I really need to clean up and get consolidated. Maybe in the near future.

Etsy sales are picking up now that the holidays are here, and now that word is spreading about my shops. Smiling Goth Shop features all kinds of fun unique jewelry, ranging from neo-victorian to gothic and steampunk. All pieces are of good quality and most important: affordable! I refuse to jack up my prices. Instead I've looked for bargains, and passed the cost-effectiveness on to my customers. If I can find an antique pocket watch relatively cheap to use in a piece of jewelry, why would I want to charge over $100 for it? OK, yes, lots of profit, sure, but I'm not greedy.

Sales at Bizarre Yarns are also on the rise. There's some new yarn and some new holiday stitch markers as well. There's also a sale going on, with some fun contests and giveaways, so be sure to check it out.

There's also some awesome stuff available at the Cinnamon Zen Shop. There's all natural, dye-free soy wax candles scented with 100% natural essential oils, 100% natural perfume oils, and high-end jewelry made with precious metals.

Want something totally unique for that unique special someone in your life or on your shopping list? Feel free to contact me at any of the above-listed shops and let me know what you'd like. I'll make it for you! :)

Also, don't forget the vampire lover on your list! There's still time to order a copy of the Immortal War Series at the Smiling Goth Bookstore.

The World is Spinning and I'm the One At the Wheel

OK, where to begin? The end.

Now that we've got THAT out of the way, here's the middle and beginning to entertain the masses.

Got to hear a guy in a web meeting today pronounce passe (should have an accent over the e, and is pronounced pass-ay) as 'pass'. WRONG, dude. I don't care if you sound scrumptiously adorable and are from the land of tall, blonde and GQ-esque. Bastard.

This past weekend got to travel into Gettysburg, PA for much fun and romping. First stop was The Mannings, which isn't actually in Gettysburg but in East Berlin. Close enough as the crow flies, really. If you haven't been to the Mannings, well, jumping Jesus, get there! ... Well, only if you're a fiber freak like me, anyway. If you don't play with yarn or make yarn/felted objets d'art, then The Mannings might be kind of boring for you.

The purpose of this pilgrimage? To meet up with the gals (and hubby of a gal) of LSG on Ravelry. What a crazy awesome time. I may or may not have come off as a raging alcoholic to my new friends, but in my defense, we did have some awesome food and atmosphere by camping out in the Gettysburg Hotel bar.

After the adventure, came back home to ponder what exactly to do with the ends of yarns that have no home. Enter the hair ties, shown here to the left in lavender and black with glitz. They are available on my Etsy shop for the yarn grrl in your life.

I have to admit, they do amuse me greatly, and they come in assorted colors. These are a limited edition, so hurry up to BizarreYarns.etsy.com!

That is all. Until next time, of course.

~Suzi

BizarreYarns.com and Other Sundry Happenings

My insane obsession with knitting continues, as does my spinning of yarns in the literal sense and the storytelling sense. BizarreYarns.com is a direct link to my yarnish Etsy shop.

Since last we met, I've been hosting Literary Night at the Virtual Hotel Chelsea in Second Life. Before you scoff, it's not solely poetry, and we use voice, so it's not all geekery. I read short stories and chapters from my novels, we've had a fantastic rendition of 'The Raven' in the spirit of Halloween, and others test out song lyrics before playing them live. If you're not in it, you should be. IM me at Cinnamon Zemenis and I'll give you the location info. Time is Thursday nights at 9pm ET.

Also of the latest and greatest, many things are in the works behind the scenes. Think 'movie deal' and 'podcasts'. That's all the details I can give for now until I find out more and contracts are signed. Also be on the lookout for the upcoming info about the international anthology I'll be in. Woot-woot indeed.

Keeping up with What's Gone Down

Craziness. Sheer craziness. For those following the saga of the day to day of one Smiling Goth: I'm 3 Etsy shops up past my eyeballs, three novels in over my head, and now have about three projects I'm working on simultaneously. 

It's been a busy time, and it promises to become far busier before the year is out.

Bizarre Yarns is doing well. Better than I had initially expected, honestly. I spin all yarns posted, and work primarily in different fibers, from milk protein to soy silk, bright colors, regular colors, and always unique products. The stitch markers are entertaining, I have to admit. :) There's even a Zazzle shop now with some cool merch. 

Also doing well is the writing gig. Sales on the Bookstore go up before Halloween, you see. Apparently people just LOVE vampires. :) All titles are also available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and various other online book retailers. There's even Kindle editions, so go search out NEMESIS, LAMIA, and THE TOWER by Suzi M.

The Smiling Goth Shop is also doing pretty well. Unique jewelry, Halloween costume accents, and perfume. Check it out. There's even my first free standing sculpture box.

For those in Second Life, there is a weekly event on Thursday nights at the Virtual Hotel Chelsea. Literary Night, come on out. Bring some of your writing to read. Good times had by all. IM Cinnamon Zemenis for more info.

Catch you in virtual land.

~ Suzi