New Year's Eve...

I should be in bed... It's too early in the morning, but can't sleep.
And that's OK.
I've been thinking about this past year, and a few years before this one...
And although there have been hard times, I have to say the good out number and outweigh them.

I'm grateful for all my family, and friends, and extended family, and cats...
I'm grateful for the madness that makes me who I am...
I'm grateful to be alive...

So Happy New Year to those who read this, and may 2012 be amazing for you

- JB

Hanoi Rocks - Back to Mystery City [1984]

For Rich... Make sure to listen to his show tonite online!
Metal Imbalance!!!

Monday Song - Hello - Poe

And goodbye 2011...

Hope You Have a Great Nite...

King Tiki Tiki's Christmas Extravaganza!

Here's this years Elmwood Holiday Short...
Gabe made King Tiki Tiki, and it looks awesome!

ZAPPA on ZAPPA!!!

A few years back I made a Frank Zappa puppet for my Aunt Desi and Uncle John for Christmas... They were the ones to turn me on to Zappa when I was a teenager, and I haven't turned back...
John went to see Dweezil Zappa's show "Zappa Plays Zappa" last year and brought the puppet with him and managed to get Dweez to sign him!
I was pretty stoked when Desi showed me!

Monday Song - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

It's Munny Madness at Paris In Plantsville opening 12/17!

Saturday nite at Paris In Plantsville our new show for the holiday season opens...

MUNNY MADNESS!!!

It's a charity show too, so if you come and buy a Munny, or even make a donation, you'll be doing something good for others this holiday season, 30% of the proceeds are going to The Starlight Children's Foundation!

I've even got a couple Munnys in the show! Come check it out!

Monday Song - The Adventures Of Raindance Maggie - Red Hot Chili Peppers Live at Rox...

"I'm With You"  - My vote for Album of the Year 2011

Bright Light! Bright Light!

Tonite at Paris In Plantsville!

Warts and all

A couple weeks ago the Elmwood blog had a profile on ME written by my cousin for a paper she did for class...  We liked it, so we posted it!  And now I'm linking it here...  Cuz my ego is out of control today...

Just click the picture above to read it!

Painting and Beer... What's not to love?

So, first things first today...

Need something to do tonite?

Come out and see me, and my fellow Paris In Plantsville resident artists at 

The Pabst Blue Ribbon Big Can Art Slam 

at The Black Bear bar in Hartford CT!

We'll be painting in public for the love a beer!!!

There should be some amazing artists there, and maybe even Johnnie Sojive...  Maybe...

More here

http://www.facebook.com/events/152555878177789/?ref=ts

And in news that makes me feel old...

The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Guns N' Roses 

will both be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012...

Yup...  I'm "old, like the Chili Peppers..."

"Have you seen the Muppets?"

YES! I HAVE!

People keep asking me if I saw it and what I thought of it...

So I'll keep my review short and simple...

Loved it! Was the first Muppet movie that had the feel of "The Muppet Show" and it was full of that Henson Heart. If they keep moaking movies like this then they can't fail!

Can't wait to see it again...

I was lucky enough to have some great friends and my awesome girlfriend come with me to see it opening nite!

Monday Song - Evaporated - Ben Folds

And Thanks Brie!  You gave this song so much meaning to me...  I'm lucky to have you in my life.

Munny Madness!!!!

So here is my other Munny Doll... This one's the Foomi, completed with a base... It's already at Paris In Plantsville for the show!

I actually got this picture texted to me today by Josh, with the text "You're touched man."

To me that's a compliment.

MUNNY MADNESS Day 4...

Nope... No pictures of the Munny today...

Cuz it's done.

Wanna see it you gotta come to the show.

In fact I did two! A Trikky and a Foomi!

The Foomi is really whacked out!

Here's the show info, be there!...

Opening Dec 17 at Paris In Plantsville

You get a Munny...

You make your Munny unique...

You bring it to Paris In Plantsville for the coolest toy show of the holiday season!

THIS WILL BE A CHARITY EVENT WITH 30% OF ALL PROCEEDS GOING TO THE STARLIGHT CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION

Submission Fees: $5.00 for 1, $10 for 2, After two submissions; infinite submissions for FREE!!!

The First 40 Entries receive a FREE Kidrobot Key Chain!!!

Official dates :

Drop offs start December 3rd through December 15th

Opening gala will be December 17th at 7pm - 11p

But start making your Munny (or Trikky, or Rooz, or Foomi, and so on) now!

Pick them up at Blick in Plainville, CT and tell them we sent you.

And check out www.kidrobot.com/munnyworld for ideas and fun!

THIS event will be sponsored by Dick Blick Art Materials!!!!!

Visit their website for awesome deals :

http://www.dickblick.com/

Munny Madness Day 3!

Click the pic above to be part of Munny Madness at Paris In Plantsville!

It's blurry...  But there is a face starting there...  And below, a random arm!

All the info for the Munny Madness Show:

You get a Munny...
You make your Munny unique...
You bring it to Paris In Plantsville for the coolest toy show of the holiday season!

THIS WILL BE A CHARITY EVENT WITH 30% OF ALL PROCEEDS GOING TO THE STARLIGHT CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION

Submission Fees: $5.00 for 1, $10 for 2, After two submissions; infinite submissions for FREE!!!

The First 40 Entries receive a FREE Kidrobot Key Chain!!! 

Official dates : 
Drop offs start December 3rd through December 10th
Opening gala will be December 17th at 7pm - 11p


But start making your Munny (or Trikky, or Rooz, or Foomi, and so on) now!

Pick them up at Blick in Plainville, CT and tell them we sent you.
And check out www.kidrobot.com/munnyworld for ideas and fun!

Monday Song 2 - I Should Have Known - Foo Fighters

This Video Sucks Contest: Directed by Daniel Fickle

Monday Song - Walk - Foo Fighters

Foo Fighters had a contest recently where fans could make videos, here is one of the videos they liked!  I'll be posting another one later today.

This Video Sucks Contest: Directed by Phil Hodges

Munny Madness In Progress!

Here he is in pieces and some of the body in color...

Drop off dates at Paris In Plantsville for your Munny are 12/3 - 12/10 and the show opens 12/17!

MUNNY MADNESS!!!

MUNNY MADNESS is coming to Paris In Plantsville!!!

So what is Munny Madness?  

A Munny is a vinyl doll that comes pretty plain, usually white, made by Kid Robot.

You can take said doll and paint it, color it, cut it, dress it...  Customize it to whatever you want!

And Paris In Plantsville is doing a whole show of them in December! 

And you can do one too and be part of the show!  Click here for more info on that...

This one is the one I'm working on.  It's a Munny called "Trikky"...

This is how it looks fresh out of the box. 

Over the next few days I'll post pics of the progress!

Happy "Black Friday"!

Josh & Todd Movie Trailer

Who Is Going With Me Tomorrow?

Monday Song - Keep Fishin' - Weezer

Guns N' Roses Week.... Encore!

No, this wasn't the encore...  But it is footage from last nite!

Say whatever you want about the new Guns N' Roses...  But let me tell you.  This is a band, a group.  Not just a bunch of hired musicians like so many so called classic bands are now.  This guys played to make each other sound good, they played off and with each other.  They cared for the old songs and killed it on all the new ones...  And I've never heard Axl sound so good...

And they weren't even that late!  Hahaha!  They hit the stage at 11:30 and played till 3:30 AM!!!

Never a dull moment, and it was killer song after another...  

Thanks Tricky for wanting to go!

So bittersweet, this tragedy...

The last day of Guns N' Roses week...

This clip is recent...  Very recent...  Really looking forward for tonite.

This week has been brought to you by Rock 'n' Roll and my love for my friend Tricky.

This is no disrespect for anyone else in my life, but Tricky is one of the reason's I keep going.

He's an inspiration to me.  He's my brother from another mother.

Lucky to have you in my life man, and tonite we get to act like 18 year olds again.  At least for a few hours...

Don't hang your head in sorrow, and please don't cry

In May or June 1992 Gn'R did a pay-per-view concert...

I got a few buddies to chip in five bucks each and ordered the show.

We were still in high school and my folks and brother were leaving town for the night, and they actually OK'ed me having a party...

I'd love to see what Tricky has to say about that nite...

Anyway here's Don't Cry from that show

Animal!

Sick of this life, not that you'd care...

This is a clip from the first Gn'R show I saw with Tricky...  March 1993...

I was looking for any clips from the second time we saw then together in 2002, but nothing really came up...  Oh well...

You Like To Hurt Me, You Know That You Do...

Here's a song from Gun N' Roses latest album...  But not there version...  When you're done watching this, check out the YouTube page it came from, this woman is amazing.

"Sorry" is also one of my faves on Chinese Democracy...

You can't fool yourself, you came in this world alone

So I texted Tricky right after I posted on Sunday that this is Gn'R week, letting him know...

And  I was expecting a "Fuckin' A" text or something.

But instead he punched me in the gut...

The text read "When you're talking to yourself..."

That S.O.B....  Hahahaha...

So here's "Estranged" 

Dedicated to Tricky; my soul brother, and to J.R. Calvo, my other soul brother

Thank you both for being there for me whenever I have need you

Monday Song- Sweet Child O' Mine -Guns N' Roses

11/19!

Guns N' Roses Week

Today starts Guns N' Roses week on this blog...

Tricky and I are going to see them Saturday nite in Hartford...  So to share how happy I am I'm gonna force Gn'R on everyone who reads this blog...

So here's some vintage Elmwood Puppets making fun of the fact Chinese Democracy had yet to come out...  2003 or 2004...  I don't remember!

Art

Creepy Jon

acrylic on canvas, portrait of a puppet

Ahh, New England

I'll be returning to the blogging in a few days...
Still no net at the homespace...

Monday Song - My My - Seven Mary Three

Kermit the Frog

Monday Song - Ice Age - Joy Division

King Tiki Tiki's Shack of Amazement!

Look for a ton more of Steve and his friends in 2012!

Welcome To The Jungle On Halloween Part 2

Summer 1990...

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Devil's Nite... Tomorrow nite...

Join me at Paris In Plantsville for a free screening of 

"The Crow"

at 8PM 10/30!

Miss Piggy...

Day 5 of sick...

Started feeling sick on Sunday...

It kicked my ass Monday and Tuesday...

Slept most of yesterday...

Back to the day job today, we'll see how it goes.

As long as I'm better by NEXT weekend!!!

Then after that...  Back to puppet making!

"The Muppets"

28ish Days till "The Muppets" hits in the U.S.!!!

As much as that makes me happy, I currently feel like crap.  

I'm sick, boo me...  Hahahaha...

Monday Song - Tourniquet - Marilyn Manson

Welcome To The Jungle On Halloween

Summer 1990...

Parliament Funkadelic - Standing On the Verge of Gettin' It On - Houston...

Saturday Morning Funk...

Just because

Meanwhile in the American Public School Systems...

See the whole movie tonite!

At Paris In Plantsville!

"It's Not Easy Having A Good Time. Even Smiling Makes My Face Ache."

Click the Pic!

Dammit Janet...

Uggh....  Not feeling well...

Anyway....  

Eric Kicks Art Ass

And Rocky Horror Tomorrow Nite!

Science Fiction Double Feature Picture Show...

This Friday nite!

Hang out with me at Paris In Plantsville!

Laugh a lot and throw toast!!!

"What ever happened to Fay Wray?"

That 's the question posed by Dr. Frank-n-Furter poses to the audience in the 1975 classic film 

"The Rocky Horror Picture Show"...

As part of the Halloween Season we'll be screening several films....

Join us 10/21 for a fee screening of Richard O'Brien's legendary musical and bring your props for the audience participation event!

Following "Rocky Horror" will be the Richard Elfman film "The Forbidden Zone"!

A musical movie as strange a s strange gets featuring music from Danny Elfman's Oingo Boingo and starring the legendary little person Herve Villechaize!

Two R-Rated Horror Musicals on one wild nite!

More here!

For more on all our Halloween events use this link:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=179608375430256

Art I Own...

"Jon's New Hair"

2010 by Jordan Deschene

Unlike last week's post which is art I've done, this is art I own.  I've managed to get a good little collection going, so every now and then I'll share one here.

This one is by Jordan, my good friend and brother at Paris In Plantsville, and somehow the subject matter looks really familiar...

Monday Song - Welcome To My Nightmare - Alice Cooper

Welcome To The Jungle 3

Spring 1990...

Aliens!!!

They are coming or you Gabe!

Art

Touching The Skin

Ink on Bristol Board, comic book page

This is part of the art show at Paris In Plantsville: Halloween Extravaganza!

running from 10/15 to 11/1.

An attractive bunch...

Ladies in Gentlemen, weighing in at one million pounds of awesome and sexy; 

The Elmwood Productions Crew 2011...

left to right:

Tricky Pete Lucco

Shane McNeal

Russ Bird

Evil Jim Williams

Rachel Ryan

Gabe Finkinstein

Jaime Williams

Jon Bristol

and 

Chris Chinaman Ly

I know it's now early for this but...  Thanks guys for an awesome year of puppet madness!

Buy Gear!

Shameless self-promotions here...

Elmwood Puppets have an Cafe Press Page!

Buy our stuff!

Monday Song - Oingo Boingo - Dead Man's Party

Welcome To The Jungle Part 2

Fall 1989...

Is That Freedom Rock, Man?

Amanda's Mom

Amanda, Thank you for being a friend

The Three Stooges

Sean, Jon, Jordan

Mouth Puppets

Sean

Sean 

Mouth Puppet

Sean makes an appearance in an upcoming Steve the Vampire episode!

Tomorrow we see The Three Stooges!

Jordan

Jordan

Mouth Puppet

Monday Song - Welcome To The Jungle - Guns N' Roses

Welcome To The Jungle

Summer 1989...  

Harvesting The Harbinger

Harvesting The Harbinger: The Artwork of Clinton Deckert
Clinton's a great human being and amazing artist!

Come check out his work!

Opening Reception Tonite at Paris In Plantsville!

More Info Here

Posting... Every day(ish)

It's been a while since I started A Puppet A Day... Had the 365 days of puppets as originally planned, and kept the puppets coming too from time to time...

And I've just been using the blog as fun place, so I've decided for the year of 10/1/2011 to 10/1/2012 I'm going to try and post something every day. I've been kinda doing it September too...

Puppets, lyrics I've written and not written, other peoples puppets, drawings and art, links to stuff, weird old videos, weird new videos, whatever's on my mind, pictures of my cats... Whatever I want... And it starts today!

With the pictures below... From shooting with Elmwood Productions this past summer on the show Gamrz

Gabe!

I think it's funny that people who play role playing games have rules for social skills within the game, but never really learned many useful ones in real life. Hahaha...

Me and Tricky hamming it up on a break

Jim, Russ, and Jaime puppeteering (and Shane too, but you can't see him)

Learning the lines...

Brie came, took pics and even ran the camera!

Chris with Mel

Shane is unamused, but Rachel is...

Jim, most likely making a ridiculous demand

Oh the puppets

And more puppets....