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Thursday, August 25, 2016

One of my favorite artists once asked for fan art ideas, so I suggested Rainbow Brite, and the artist had no idea who that was, and in conclusion, I felt really old that day.

But then last week someone told me a book called "Wit and Wisdom of Rainbow Brite" was just published, so John spent a morning driving all over town to find the ONLY Orlando Hallmark that had one, and now I feel like a big kid again.

::Squee!::

(This art and that sentiment need to be on everything everywhere. Pillows. Purses. Tea sets.)

(YEAH I SAID "TEA SETS.")

I don't remember much/any of the Rainbow Brite cartoons, but I looooved my doll with the crinkly holographic skirt, and I still think that art style is the cutest. So even though the "wisdom" of this little book is a bit on the "friendship is sparkles!" side, it's still a fun trip down memory lane, and well worth the $10.

I should mention it's ONLY available at Hallmark shops, btw, so don't bother looking online. But as a reward for making us leave the house, Hallmark also has THIS:

Tuesday, August 23, 2016

With Dragon Con just around the corner, it's time for a Survival Tips refresher! This is a must-read for newbies, but even those of you who've been a few times may find it useful, as I'll be including updates on things changing this year, plus new pictures for that oh-so-essential cosplay eye candy. ;)

First... what is it?

Dragon Con is an internationally known pop culture, sci-fi, fantasy, and gaming convention held in Atlanta, Georgia. It spans 4 days over Labor Day weekend (9/2-9/5 this year), and averages upwards of 65,000 attendees.

Unlike most large conventions, Dragon Con is NOT held in a convention center; it's held in 5 large "host hotels" plus a big merchandise building (America's Mart) which span several blocks in the downtown Atlanta area. Here's a helpful map from Reddit:

Because the con is spread out over such a large area, it's easily the most confusing and potentially stressful event you'll ever attend. First years are guaranteed to be lost a lot of the time, as it can take 2 or 3 cons to really get the lay of the land.

HOWEVER, nothing can describe the exhilaration of being surrounded by "70,000 of your closest friends" as we attendees like to joke, and there's plenty you can do to prepare.

Quick Tip: DC doesn't sell tickets, they sell "memberships." On their website, there's no "buy" - it's "join." That can be confusing for first-timers, but rest assured it's the same thing. Right now tickets for all 4 days are $150 - but keep in mind for next year that if you pre-purchase you get steep discounts.