Vintage Matchbook Art

We have our first official guest room ever! Matt and I have lived together for about ten years. We've had spare space and a blow-up mattress, but now we have a whole special room with a real bed for our guests.

I'm pulling this room together.

I've had this pile of vintage matchbooks for a few years now. I never knew what to do with them.
Today I figured it out.


I took two sheets of kraft paper - the size of my frames, and masking taped them to the table and marked off 2" border all around with pencil dots.


Then I used double-stick tape to tape down matchbook covers on the 4 corners...


Then I eyeballed it the rest of the way.


I laid them out and did re-arrangements until I was pleased with the colors and composition, then I just used double-stick tape to commit to the layout.

Getting there.


I love how this one is flipped open to show the matches.




Bonnie is never impressed.


Notes: I used my exacto knife to cut some of them because they were cute on both sides and I wanted to use both sides but maintain the look of the matchbooks.

Here's a Flickr set with more photos and details. This project was pretty fast and easy and I know there are tons of bags of vintage matchbooks at thrift/antique/flea markets.

Most of the matchbooks in the frames have the actual matches removed.

John Waters - "Role Models" Book Event NYC

I went over to Bryant Park immediately after work on Monday to line up to get a free seat at the NYPL Live series John Waters event. I was able to read a lot of the book while I was waiting. I love John Waters because he's very open-minded and loved, and he's extremely positive and seems really sweet. I grew up in Arkansas and everyone describes to everyone as "Sweet" and I kind of hate that, but now I enjoy "sweet" as a personality adjective in extreme moderation. And mostly only for unlikely characters.

If you're trying to convince me I should meet someone because they are "a sweet person," I'm typically not interested.

I got the book, "Role Models" signed for my play-brother who really knows his body of work much better than I, and I got up-close to take a pic with him and now I know John Waters has great skin. I'm becoming the "skin police."


This was my 3rd John Waters speaking event and I guess the 4th time I've seen him. (3 speaking engagements and 1 art opening for his work.)

Since I had read the book, I had heard a lot of the material that was discussed. I did not enjoy the moderator. He took forever to roll out these questions and they weren't even that original. Every time the moderator spoke I got frustrated and wanted to scream "SPIT IT OUT!" John Waters really can do it all by himself, like he does at his Christmas Special. He just gets up and talks, and it's bliss.

The setting in which the event took place was magnificent. Outdoors at Bryant Park right behind the huge, NY Public Library. The Library where Big jilts Carrie and she beats his ass with her bouquet in the street.


My Book review so far:
Personally, my life depends greatly on the role my role models play and have played. I feel in many ways that I was raised more by a group of people than my parents. My personality and skill-set was shaped by a group of teachers. John Waters has tremendous parental support and a wonderful relationship with them. No matter how interesting my life and adventures may be - I do not and did not have that. -Tremendous parental support and a great relationship. "It takes a Village" is the story of my life.

I am jealous of people who have wonderful parents and now he's on the list.

The book is a really cute, light read. Fantastic beach reading and John Waters himself recommended it for that. Then he cracked a joke about the oil spill.

I took notes about some art things around the city that he recommended - some porn photography shows, etc. He too loves the Mike Kelly blanket of stuffed animals that I previously blogged about. The piece was in the Whitney Biennial. It made my fucking day to turn the corner and find this masterpiece and it warmed my heart to hear that JW loved it too. I am going to try my best to craft one when I am nesting for my own little baby. Someday.

I am really happy about another first-time experience that I had last night. I love this little surprise that I found on my bicycle- a flier.


I forgot what it's like to find a flier under my windshield, because I sold my car and moved to New York City 3 years ago.