Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Dellamorte's Sangria Recipe

Thanks to some advice from Jeffrey Morgenthaler, a mixologist and writer from Portland, OR,  my sangria is better than ever and was a great success at my last party. I've combined suggestions from Jeffrey's site with my own recipe for something fruity and absolutely delicious...

1 750 ml bottle red wine
(Try an inexpensive, dry yet fruit-forward red wine, preferably from the Rioja region of Spain.)
2 cups cranberry pomegranate juice (100% fruit juice, not cocktail or juice drink)
1 cup mandarin orange flavor seltzer water
3/4 cup Grand Marnier
1/2 cup freshly-squeezed orange juice
2 tbsp sugar
1 tsp Angostura bitters

Mix all the ingredients together in a large pitcher until the sugar has dissolved. Add slices of fresh seasonal fruit (my favorites are apples, oranges, and lime), and serve in large wine goblets over ice. It only gets better as it sits, so I will often make this at least a half hour in advance.

Friday, November 5, 2010

Neo-Grotesque

Guest lecturer at the ISE Cultural Foundation, Dr. Nancy Hightower, will be speaking on the newly coined "Neo-Grotesque" movement, Saturday, November 20, 5-7PM.
I think I may fall under this category... Here is the blurb from their website on it:

The grotesque in the fine arts has continued to gain momentum over the past couple of decades with the works of such artists as Odd Nerdrum, Dino Valls, Joel Peter Witkin and Robert and Shana Parke-Harrison, amongst others. Another Roadside Attraction aims to explore this newly named genre, the Neo-Grotesque by exhibiting a dynamic cross section of artwork that evinces various unique aspects thereof. Seattle's Roq la Rue gallery states, "The term [Neo-Grotesque] was recently coined for the resurgence of artists working with subject matter traditionally deemed unattractive or repulsive, but representing them in a sympathetic manner in a highly formal technical style." More than that, it is a modern exploration of the intriguing "dissonance between the grotesque and the sublime", to paraphrase author Mark Dery and his essay, The Pyrotechnic Insanitarium. Neo-Grotesque artwork not only derives inspiration from history (e.g. the art of Hieronymus Bosch or Roadside Attraction curio exhibits, once ubiquitous in the United States), but also more modern influences due to the proliferation of the internet. Often cathartic in nature, it unburies uncomfortable and/or strange truths, old and new, inherent in the world around us.

ISE Cultural Foundation
555 Broadway
New York, NY 10012
T:212-925-1649



Tooth of Saint Dearborne  
© Calluna Dellamorte

Arm of Saint Abercrombie
© Calluna Dellamorte  

Charmion and Laverie: The Two Headed Strong Woman
© Calluna Dellamorte  

Dream Anatomy
© Calluna Dellamorte

Word of the Day

Possibly the best word I've found so far...

defenestration‬: ‪the act of throwing someone out of a window‬

Who knew there was a word for that?!

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Word of the Day

bumblebroth: a tangled situation; a mess

Halloween Break

Time to blog! Things get crazy around here during the week before Halloween, but I didn't think I'd be taking another week+ off from blogging. I need to get my head back in the game. I have a ton of work piled up on my desk now, and a new piece of artwork to start working on... not to mention the 3 pieces I still need to finish!
In my defense, I throw a crazy party every year, and I had three costumes; one for my party and two others for parties I attended.
Enjoy some photos of my Halloween decor and costuming...
Mr. Bones


The Dexter Room

Steampunk Bride of Frankenstein

Patience from The Amazing Screw on Head

I want to be a cowgirl...

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Blame

I blame Haute Macabre for making me want these over the knee boots after I have been bitching about how awful they are (over the knee boots, not the blog). What is worse is that I still can't find them. Thanks a million...
(The fur totally needs to go....)

Word of the Day

shivering jemmy:  a half naked beggar

Vroom! Vroom!

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

"Original Stitch and Bloody Ghoul-ery" accessory line.

I love these chokers from VonErickson, a ghoulish accessory shop on Etsy. 
Makes me want to change my Halloween costume again...

Monday, October 18, 2010

Word of the Day

bricolage \bree-koh-LAHZH; brih-\
noun:
Construction or something constructed by using whatever materials happen to be available.


Well that sounds very much like what I do...

Hell's Cafe

I would love to go for coffee here. Hell’s Cafe in Paris, 1890’s.

Slacker

Okay, so I totally slacked off last week. Seems I needed a mental vacation. But I am back in the saddle, and ready to post more random stuff.
First, I think I'd like to rant about over the knee boots some more. There is one pair that has caught my attention as something I'd actually wear, but I can't seem to find them anywhere... otherwise, I am still seeing garbage.
This is what $50 will get you. I present the Ruby Boot by 80%20. A fake leather garbage bag tied around your leg...

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Feminine Fighters











Word of the Day

nympholepsy \NIM-fuh-lep-see\, noun:

1. A frenzy of emotion, as for something unattainable.

2. An ecstasy supposed by the ancients to be inspired by nymphs.

Monday, October 4, 2010

Speaking of Blood Wine

Bittersweet's Apothecary has an awesome Halloween label available as a high rez PDF on Etsy for a buck!
©2010 Bittersweet's Apothecary

Word of the Day

sesamoid:
noun
a small independent bone or bony nodule developed in a tendon where it passes over an angular structure, typically in the hands and feet. The kneecap is a particularly large sesamoid bone.
ORIGIN late 17th cent.: from sesame (with reference to the similarity in shape of a sesame seed) + -oid .

Ladies in Pants

Occasionally the women wearing pants were male impersonators and/or lesbians. Around the turn of the last century it became very fashionable for lesbians to wear a monocle. I wish I had more photos of that...






Friday, October 1, 2010

Mutant Fetus Sculpt

Just a little something I was playing around with the other night.

 ©2010 Calluna Dellamorte