zomg.
I just jumped out of my skin.
The cause: world's best care package.
Thank you Gracie!

yams with a side of fur

I often visit musubi for inspiration.

just for you:

another Monica Canilao piece

inspiration: Alexandre Joly

one word: awe-inspiring

I want my home to have elements of Alexandre Joly's work. The birds, the smoke, the peacock feathers... Everything! I strongly recommend checking out all of his projects. If I owned a home with a yard I would certainly want to duplicate the Brrr... project for the holidays. The propped taxidermy ravens were a slight inspiration for this year's pithy Halloween decor:

and the lucky winner is...

★ Congrats to the stylish and stunning Molly of Rackk and Ruin for winning the Taschen Keel's Simple Diary giveaway. ★

I blame the taupe.

Why else would an immaculate, encapsulated typewriter collection, taxidermy and crown molding not make sense?

recent purchase:

Albert Burton Farnham; Date of Publication: 1916
Eeeek! I'm incapable of saving money. I just picked up this vintage illustrated book for my treasure wall. With a cover this good how is a girl like me supposed to resist? I can't wait to rip open the package when it comes in and smell the musky aged pages.

Je suis un bébé requin

I wanted to take a quick swim at the beach this morning but the rainy weather wasn't in my favor. Instead, I spent my Sunday AM sipping coffee and catching up on my google reader. Then I happily stumbled upon this fuckery:

source: crappy taxidermy
It immediately reminded me of this painting that left an impression on me from my American Art History course in college: John Singleton Copley; Watson and the Shark, 1778

A quick search then lead to this 3D insanity:

anaglyph version by Jim Long

And this adorableness:

Je suis un bébé requin

Au ventre blanc aux dents nacrées
Dans les eaux chaudes
Je t’entraînerai
Et sans que tu le sache
Avec amour avec douceur
Moi vois-tu bébé requin
Je veux te dévorer le cœur

[ ♫ ]

I’m a baby shark,
White-bellied and pearly-toothed,
Into the warm waters I’ll take you
And without you noticing, lovingly and smoothly,
I, pretty baby shark,
Will eat up your heart.
via even cleveland
(an oh so precious blog with tons of shark posts)

I hope you guys have a great Sunday. Unfortunately there's no ocean or cute french singing sharks on my itinerary today. I'm stepping away from the internet and it's kungfu grip on my attention span before this whole rainy day is lost.

dillo v bike

Would you rather own a gorgeous bike like this Bilenky Track bike:
or

an impeccable 9 banded armadillo from evolution store?
I'm being good and all my coins will be saved towards creating a pretty bike friend.
If the armadillo burned calories I'd be all over him.

pony up

"Seventeen horses have been mysteriously slaughtered and butchered in Miami since January. The SPCA suspects the killings are feeding a black market for horse meat." Every time I hear this horse murder coverage I let out a little neigh. I was never a pony obsessed child but I do appreciate a well made equine piece and I'd never ingest their meat.

Yang Maoyuan inflated horse skin

beautiful horse hair rope mary anns cottage
SOMBRA NOBLE
The new poncho collection by Dadadandy Maurizio Cattelan ; Novecento, 1997
Taxidermy horse
handmade horses by astulabee

500th post & Blogiversary

It's a tad belated on the 1 year anniversary here at me melodia but who really cares. Not only does this mark my first year of blogging about art, taxidermy, housewares and just a bunch of nothing about something, but this is also my 500th post. Wosh. Time has seriously whizzed by and in it's wake my head is spinning. In the past year I've maintained my sanity through continuing this blog, been inspired to pursue creative outlets and have made some darling internet friends (you know who you are). I love every single one of you who have visited and continue to stop by. Being committed and staying true to my integrity has always been a priority but it's really easy to get distracted. I'm happy to celebrate this blogiversary and hope the next year is as fruitful and rewarding. In the upcoming days I plan to introduce new features, incorporate a more interactive platform, update the layout and offer some exciting treats and contest.
Thanks again for hanging around!

Oh, and I'd like to thank Elaine Bradford for creating the above piece from her freaks of nurture series.
I've gifted it to the blog in my mind.

Bambi ♥

I was intending to write something on the fact that my chihuahua Parker needs an $1,800 dual knee surgery soon. Major trauma on both her tiny deer body and my wallet. But before I even began working on my puppy woes post I found this NPR news story in my inbox. This story is making my head spin. You have people like me who are willfully about to spend thousands on improving the quality of life of a 4lb animal then beasts like this Dorothy woman who beat them to death!

Woman Beats Bambi To Death With Shovel

What kind of person would beat Bambi to death?
Denise Richardson of Euclid, Ohio is exactly that kind of person.

EUCLID, Ohio -- Resident Dorothy Richardson, 76, said she was defending herself when she beat to death a 25-pound fawn that was crouched in her flower bed, then stuffed the fawn's body in a cardboard box and put it out on trash day.

Richardson said she has been defending her garden against deer for years and this time took a shovel and beat the fawn until it died.
She said the fawn's eyes contacted hers, like he was going to jump and bite her head off.
Euclid City Councilman Christopher Gruber says Richardson told him something different.
Gruber says Richardson said she hit it once and, according to her, it screamed and she hit it two more times, then she said that what she wanted to do was put it at the end of the yard so the other deer know not to mess with her.

Maybe she could've tried coyote urine before going the fawn-bashing route?

A lot on my shoulders right now

sourced from: crappytaxidermy.com
Fun site although I don't agree with it featuring my secret lover or
the lovedtodeath curio I own.

Ps. I plan to be a bit quiet on the blog front this week due to my crazy work load, life distractions and looming 4 year anniversary.

weekday links

Ramones beach party
via now voyager's hilarious ms paint party!!!

• amazing porcelain clothing
  
• lettering
• Paco, the cosmic chihuahua postal stamp
  
• Geodesic dome a blaze
• I'm haunted by this book chandelier mobile
  
• skull swap!!!!!
  
• heavenly shades of night are falling
• loving: Iannone Design
• a cat's fantasy dress
  
• I keep revisiting these vanillaice&madonna pics
• totally gaga over treatzone's altered vintage portraits
  
• I want her long ass legs
• I love Ann Yee's designs esp that pleated coat
  
• Oh my, more pleats ||||||
• indoor pool from a pretty eco house
  
• Erik Sandberg's harry kids
  
• Japanese cat house
• after a stressful week my shoulders need this
  
• Liam looks beat and his line is a bit meh.
  
• She's so precious
• happy bday MM
  
• I want this ceiling by Verner Panton
• I don't need this taxidermy mouse deer right? Right??
  
• Angelica!
• Ann Ropp watercolors
• one of my fave best of Craigslist
  
• it's Friday:

I'm crashing

Polly Morgan

submisive

sourced from mimmax

Yes, Mr. Fox I'll do anything you say. Those the sky's the limit eyes, I'll nip you if you get outta line grin, and official looking captains hat & sash had me whipped at first sight.

i foresee

light posting this week.

I wish I could attribute it to hanging out with these creatures:

Sarina Brewer custom creatures
But unfortunately i won't be. Instead I'm knee deep in work, cold fighting and apartment renovations.

for Naty

I just found out my best friend has chicken pox. She's beyond
bummed so I'm posting Jan Svankmajer's Alice especially for her.
But if you like surrealism, taxidermy,stop motion,Lewis Carole,
and randomness then I'm sure you'll enjoy this too.

N: I'm sending over this rabbit to soothe you in your time of pox. He'll know just what to do.

<3 friends

I'm dedicating this post to my lovely friends who always know just how to make me smile. Here is a selection of photos they felt compelled to tag me in. You bitches are the best-I love you all!

Warning: Although these aren't NSFW they might bother some people with normal taste.

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butt sniffer

a lil piece of flesh

Halloween night was a rough one.

dead bird as art ABMB.

Dusty aristo-cat on a wooden bicycle.

Taxidermy squirrel band shot by Hank Williams.

speechless.

happy friday

"Kitten's tea party" by Walter Potter. Dates from around 1871; Victorian Mount

The Kitten's Tea and Croquet Party has 37 little kittens having tea, or playing croquet, with onlookers and waitresses. Walter Potter shows great attention to detail, two kittens appear to be reading a time-table, another is brushing its hair. A social gathering of some importance seems to be taking place, a courteous young kitten is offering a plate of 'mouse tarts' to his neighbour.