Chris Ryniak and Amanda Louise Spayd's Gemnibbler Exclusive from Umi Toys Hawaii

    Happy New Year, ya filthy animals!  The best way to start your next 365 days off right is to treat yourself to some retail therapy.  I started the New Year with a sinus infection; mouth breathing my way home from work last night while R.E.M.'s "It's the End of the World as We Know It" filled the interior of my Hyundai.  Kind of an ominous start to 2019, but if life were easy I certainly wouldn't recognize it if it was standing next to me and tapping my shoulder.  So while I could bore you with top 10 lists or other nonsense that people usually do this time of year, my cold medicine is insisting we throw that idea in the trash and instead tell you about something new.  Brace yourselves, for I am at its mercy.

   There's nothing worse that being a collector of anything and not being able to get each and every thing associated with it.  Do you want to know how many sets of figures I have where I'm only missing one and that one that eludes me is priced at a level that would keep me up at night?  I'd tell you, but lets not dwell on the negative.  Umi Toys is ensuring that every collector of the Thimblestump Hollow series 2 figures from Chris Ryniak and Amanda Louise Spayd will be able to complete their sets by offering up this exclusive Canyon edition Gemnibbler.  This enemy of precious jewels is limited to only 85 pieces, retails for $15, and can only be had by visiting www.umitoyshawaii.com.  One of these will also be included if you are purchasing one of their Fukubukuro lucky bags.

   These figures are produced by the fine folks of Cardboard Spaceship, who have yet to convince NASA that corrugated paper is the best material for use when constructing the shuttle.  

Icebox Pocket Sideshow Chibi Figures from Circus Posterus

    Where were these little dudes when I was digging my car out of the snow and ice a few days ago?  They look primed for the frozen outdoors and I'm sure I could have found them some tiny shovels in just their size to help with the work.  Shoveling snow feels like a curse, but having little elf-sized helpers would probably make it at least mildly amusing.

    Circus Posterus is unleashing the latest in their series of Pocket Sideshow figures this Friday and they perfectly capture the more magical side of the season we are in.  Featuring designs from Kathie Olivas, Brandt Peters, Chris Ryniak, and Amanda Louise Spayd, these little dudes will make you feel much less hateful to the ice that has encased your wife's car until the spring thaw.

http://www.circusposterus.com

Amanda Louise Spayd's "Belfry" Debut Release This Friday

    Did you know the Philadelphia Zoo is the oldest zoo in America?  You can stick that factoid under your hat and use it the next time you're on Jeopardy.  Just don't forget me when you win that cash.  I'll take my cut before taxes, thank you very much.

   The point I was attempting to make about the zoo is that my wife's favorite part is the right by the front gate with the fruit bats.  These things are huge, like Chihuahuas with wings, and they're beyond fascinating to watch.   I like watching them eat, and listening to kids that come by when one of the bats has flipped right side up to relieve himself.  Actually, anytime an animal at the zoo is using the restroom or trying to have relations with his cage mate and there are kids nearby you'll hear the most hilarious stuff.  One time we were there and the giant tortoises were feeling rather amorous and this little girl, who couldn't have been more than 6, yells out to them 'slow it down turtles".  Her father was trying so hard not to laugh in front of her horrified mother, so I'd like to feel my laughter made up for it.

    Ok, enough zoo talk cause now I wanna go.  Let's get back to what is pictured above there, which just happens to be Amanda Louise Spayd's latest resin creation "Belfry".  This little resin bat is so cute I could spit!  He's making his debut tomorrow (Friday the 2nd) at 2pm eastern time only at http://mandilouise.blogspot.com/.

Amanda Louise Spayd's Secret Society Sale

     My house is filled with dust bunnies.  Not like, filled to the point where I'm wading knee deep in them to try and reach other rooms, but enough that if a light breeze were to come by a few fairly large specimens would most likely skitter across the floor.  Our five cats seem to shed like there were Olympic medals and the glory of their country at stake.  And there will be times that you miss vacuuming under something and all the dust bunnies will congregate under there until they form something that resembles a witch's Halloween wig.  On those days of discovery a few episodes of Hoarders always makes me feel better about my house keeping abilities.  

    Not all dust bunnies are a source of shame though.  Amanda Louise Spayd has been making them for years and people go nuts to own them.  I really like the little resin versions, called Pipsqueaks, the best and a bunch of them will be going on sale tomorrow along with more of her original work.   Visit her site at www.amandalouise.com for more information including pictures, prices, and on sale times.