Completely Unrelated Shenanigans

It seems with the holiday season, that I've been pretty busy lately. Who knew? Alas, I've found some time here and there to do things completely unrelated to my life involving skateboard reincarnation. Most recently, I decided that I don't love my car enough. And, even though it has some serious issues, I thought maybe we'd get along a little better if I was a bit more kind.

Of course, I don't quite have the funds to really spiff up this brick, so, I decided to start small. The interior has some strange flaws, like the window sills resembling some seriously wrinkled skin. Don't ask me how that happened. I was fortunate enough to purchase the car in such a state, ha! Now, however, the only thing one will be able to focus on upon seeing the interior of the car is this...

That's right, plaid! Red, black, and tan to be precise. As you can see, I've started with these small door panels, but I'm scheming about what other parts of my car I can transform into awesomeness. Stay tuned. I'm sure I won't be able to contain myself once I've finished.

-Coob

Peek for the Sneak

Curious about what's going on in that new apartment of mine? The sawdust is flying, and a new stack of decks with some AWESOME new colors are being demolished and reconstructed as we speak... well, not literally. Man, that would be dangerous! But, seriously, keep your eyes peeled. Some of these bad boys are gonna show up in my Etsy shop real soon.


Happy Thursday Coob-Stalker ;P

-Coob

New Diggs, New Decks, New Year

I have successfully made the move into my new place, and though still unpacking of course, it's AWESOME. From all the great space to the energy efficient appliances, I couldn't be more stoked. The pup and I both find the high efficiency front loading washer and dryer pretty fascinating as you can tell.

Talent, my local skatepark and skateshop recently lifted the ceiling on their park. (Yes, it's indoors!) So, they had to close the park for a few weeks. This meant no one was really coming inside to break their skateboards. Luckily, the renovation is complete, looks awesome, and now, decks are being destroyed once again. I have some new decks with some awesome new colors. Be on the look on for the new guys coming soon in my Etsy shop.

Finally, I just turned the big 2-5 a week ago. And, I'm hoping that this year will be a good one! Last year sucked, and I'm overly excited to put it behind me. So here's to an awesome new year. A great start, I received THREE of my favorites prints from artist Kill Taupe. They are even better in person. Now, they're just sitting in their protective envelope home while they await framing.

To an awesome 25th year, here goes nothing ;)

-Coob

Let's Hear it for the Boy

Now that I have Deneice Williams stuck in my head... I thought I'd share with you a treasury I created. Quiet helpful and quite awesome. It might help some of you people out there who haven't a clue what to get for the guys in your life. I thought I'd share my insight.

Clearly you need to go check it out directly, click all over the place and comment to say just how awesome it is, you would have been lost without it, yada yada yada.
For the Fellas Treasury Link

That's all for now,

-Coob

Coob Goes Country

No, not country as in I now listen to country music, herd cattle, and sport a Stetson hat. I am however moving to the country. This is sort of a joke if you know that I live in Vermont, which really is all country. But here, in the "big city", it's a little less country. I'm moving a few miles away to a place which will be all my own, and is somehow, much more affordable. Which, is nuts considering how awesome it is. I'm moving officially next weekend. Hopefully I'll have instant Internet like my awesome Irish landlord claims. Anyway, check out the view from my new place.

This should give you just a hint about the awesomeness. I promise more pictures of the new place and continued Friday Favorites once I'm settled in.

Until next time,

-Coob

Friday Favorites Vol. 2 - KillTaupe

After failing to post last week, I'm here this week to make up for it. This volume of Friday Favorites features a favorite Etsy artist of mine: KillTaupe.

KillTaupe's "original urbanpop art" has a lot to offer. I love the bold and bright colors, the graphic style and nature of the pieces, the added humor, and of course that much of his work is done on wood with acrylic!

Here are a few of his pieces/items currently for sale.


Broccoli Eats Venison - Original


Give me all the French Toast - Limited Edition Print



Chickens Magnet Set

For more by KillTaupe you can check him out at:

http://www.killtaupe.etsy.com/

That's all for now. Happy Friday.

-COOB

Friday Favorites Vol. 1 - RAGGEDedgeGear

In my effort to be a more active blogger, I wanted to start sharing some of my favorite Etsy finds. Frankly, Friday seems fitting. Hmmm, I wonder how many words I could use that start with F... anyway.

This weeks favorite is:

Sailcloth Mini Wallet Bright Orange and Black by RAGGEDedgeGear



RAGGEDedgeGear has a ton of awesome items in their Etsy shop made from sailcloth! They offer wallets in different sizes, bags, folders and more. I'm not doing these items justice. They are incredible. Not to mention durable and easy to clean (you can even toss these wallets in the top rack of the dishwasher). Plus, they come in a wide array of awesome colors too. I'm hoping I might be lucky enough to receive one of these bad boys for my birthday or the holidays. And, if not, I'm gonna have to buy one myself! You can check out their Etsy shop (and I recommend that you do) here : RAGGEDedgeGear Etsy Shop

That's all for this first edition of Friday Favorites.

-Coob

Featured on the Front Page

I've been pretty terrible at posting. And, I'd like to work on changing that! Just wanted to share that the Sunday before last, my skull skateboard pendant was featured on the front page of Etsy!

To see the archive and the other items it was featured with, click the link!
Featured Etsy Front Page Archive
Until next time,

-COOB

Excitement in the works

Some exciting things seem to be happening for the Coobster these days. Things have really taken off quickly with the recent listing of some of the new recycled skateboard items on Etsy. Selling three rings in one week made me realize that it's probably time to think about investing in a drill press so that I can make them faster. Since, at the moment crafting each ring takes a few hours. Whew! Luckily, Vermont tax free day is this weekend.

This past weekend the consultant and I were in a local Vermont shop that sells mostly clothing and accessories. Looking into the case I casually asked if they ever worked with local artists/designers. He said that they do, and love to do it. He told me that if I know of anyone to send them over! I told him a little about what I do, and the consultant proudly beamed showing off one of the pieces she was wearing. He loved the idea of recycled skateboard items, gave me a card, and encouraged me to set up an appointment to meet with the shop manager. I was stoked! I know very little about working with retailers to negotiate terms, etc. So, I'll have to do some research. If anyone has any tips or resources, feel free to send them my way.

I was also contacted this week about being a founder of a Vermont artist coop/shop. I hope there's enough interest to get things started.

I'm still working on some new stuff too, so keep your eyes out! That's it for now.

-Coob

A Coob Introduction

It doesn't seem there are very many places I am willing to fill out an 'about me', so perhaps it's best I do it on my own terms. And, if you are reading this, it's likely that I am not twisting your arms behind your back and pressing your face to the screen to get you to learn about me. So, that's on you!

A bit about me and why I started with all this 'COOB' business. After getting hurt and work, and subsequently being unable to work because of said injury, I had disgusting amounts of free time on my hands. I should mention that this is not the time of free time one desires. This is the sit still, with no one around, can't go anywhere, pull out your hair kind of free time. And, since I sometimes like my hair, I decided I'd better find something to keep myself busy.

It started with collecting bottle caps, a few here and there, and now it seems that I have an army of bottle cap collectors. Since they can't be recycled, I figured might as well try to do something with them. Thus, earrings, cuff links, magnets, and a few interesting other items were constructed with bottle caps. Bottle caps led to LEGO's, which were also fun. But, then I have always enjoyed LEGO's.

Yet even with what I suspect is thousands of bottle and LEGO's, there was still something I desired more: Skateboards. Yes, skateboards. Particularly, the kind that no one wants. I have two perfectly good working skateboards, and of course I can't use them because of my injury. So why in the world would I want more? I contacted my local indoor skatepark Talent in South Burlington, VT and proposed that I we help each other out. Every week I make a visit to Talent and pick up the broken, abused, and sometimes mind blowingly old skateboard decks that are headed for the trash. As you may imagine, skateboards aren't small, and aren't breaking down any time soon in the landfill. So, acquiring these broken decks has been a way for me to combine passions.

With the broken decks I tear them apart further to create new things, everything from jewelry to furniture (see lightning bolt pendant photo). I love working with the decks, and finding the life that's still left in them. The seven-ply wood layers that make up most of the decks seem to create many opportunities for me. In my opinion, the scars that tell the story of the life of the skateboard deck already offer some incredible art. And, I often find myself wondering what exactly 'this deck' has seen.

So there you go, that's why I do what I do. But you can check things out for yourself at http://cooboriginals.etsy.com/

And if you're wondering what's up with the name...? A friend of mine came up with it in attempt to turn my initials into a nickname : Coob. Upon giving my first pair of bottle cap earrings as a gift, my friend responded "My first pair of Coob Originals!" And, the name was born.

That's more than enough about me for now.

-Coob