My tribe frequents a bath treats company here called BLISS Soaps. The gentlemen who own it are positive, pro-freak, gay entrepreneurs who have lavished my crew with free goodies to try, extra fat slices of rich, creamy soap, and double the bath bombs for which we’ve paid. I never leave without guinea-pigging new scents on my wrists and being complimented on my hair or mode of dress. Their generosity has not gone unnoticed–after our last trip to BLISS, the crew spent at least twenty minutes debating the company’s business model, and we decided that the decadent spoiling manner in which BLISS treats customers is ideal and divine. This stuff is better than therapy, kids.

I received word a few minutes ago that BLISS Soaps was massively scammed and are desperately trying to recoup losses so they can stay in business. From the BLISS email list:

BLISS Soaps has unfortunately fallen victim to a fraudulent business deal. Many local customers may recall a large soap, lotion, facemask and eye cream order that we were working on as they came to visit the store. The order was made, delivered and distributed to the Cruise-line executives ahead of schedule. Emperors Essentials, the company that commissioned BLISS Soaps to fulfill this contract fraudulently reversed ALL of the payments that were made to us. After researching the company, we discovered that the couple who own Emperors Essentials; Robert Friend, Jr., and Shao Mei Wang, operate 4 charities in Gig Harbor, Washington. 1) National Association of Disabled Police Officers. 2) American Veterans Coalition. 3) (Childrens) Cancer Assistance Network. 4) Disabled Firefighters Foundation. All 4 charities are fictitious and an estimated $5,000,000.00 was raised for the charities and around 2 cents per dollar was used as assistance. If you hear of these in the future, DO NOT DONATE.

The devastation to BLISS Soaps came at such a time that we may not recover the funds in time to maintain operations.

In an effort to make this a win-win situation for both of us, we are offering this 4 day only Internet, call-in, and walk-in special in an attempt to earn pre holiday revenue.

All orders over $50.00 will be doubled and the next 5 future orders over $50.00 will be given a $15.00 credit.

All orders received in the next 4 days will be filed and a VERY special future offer will be offered to you in our December E-mail.

ALL orders place in the next 4 days (EVEN orders under $50.00) will be given the Special December offer.

To call in your orders, please call 1-206-322-SOAP, 7 days 4-10 Pacific Time.  Internet orders, please only order ½ of what you would like as we will simply double the order received.

Thank, you for your past and continued patronage and hope to hear from you soon.

Phil & Chuck
BLISS Soaps

Thanks to anyone who is able to throw some help toward these gentlemen, and thanks to BLISS for being so fantastic.

619 Broadway E,
Seattle, WA. 98102
http://blisssoap.com

[Bath bomb photo from the BLISS website.]

ANACHROTECHNOFETISHISM: ARTIFACTS BY PIONEERS OF AMERICAN STEAMPUNK, originally uploaded by exoskeletoncabaret.

I’m pleased to announce that I am co-curating and presenting artwork as part of a 13-person group gallery show in Seattle. THIS is what I’ve been so busy scheming the last few weeks. Hope you’ll come. It is a great honor to work with so many talented individuals, all renaissance people in their own right.

~~~~~~~~~
Long before the age of the internet, and well before the cold efficiency of the assembly line, existed fantastic and terrible machines, run on hope, sweat, and steam. It was a time in which form and function lived in sin, and everyman was a revolutionary.

We are 13 American artists united by broad geography and narrow aesthetic.

Marrying narrative and nostalgia to design and technology, we imagine the triumphs of the past overriding the failures of the present to create from the ruins and detritus a dazzling future-perfect.

September 12 – October 3, 2008
Opening Reception: September 12 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM

SUITE 100 GALLERY
2222 2nd Ave Suite 100, Seattle, WA 98121 (206) 956.3900

Seattle Sunset, originally uploaded by exoskeletoncabaret.

Photo from minutes ago.

The newest and largest crane yet has been recently erected in the pit outside. The sun set just moments ago. I think I frightened my neighbors by hanging out the third-floor window with my DSLR.

I’m lucky to have large windows with a view of the city and a camera on hand for times like these.

Out the Window, originally uploaded by exoskeletoncabaret.

A shot of the view through my window in my Seattle apartment. There is much construction outside, but also a great and vasty pit below me, cluttered with industrial equipment. I have chosen to see this as metaphor rather than a nuisance, except for on mornings when the construction workers decide to make excessive use of the gas-powered demolition saw right below my open window. Apartments should not be decorated with smog.

I’ve also reposted some prints and listed another five pairs of beetle elytra and anodized titanium earrings on Etsy. Check out the listings for more details. I love working with shiny jingly bug bits–they appeal to my inner morbid magpie in a way no other material can.

Thanks!

I am still looking for creative employment in the Seattle area. Check out my portfolio in the right-hand sidebar if you know of any job leads or would like to hire me, or email me at exoskeletoncabaret at gmail dot com.