Unite! Unite!
Put up a fight!

We’re tired of the jokes
The punches, the slaps and the nasty eye pokes

We simply just want the freedom you see
To live and to thrive, nerdy and free

But until we reach our new level of life
We will fight, we will scream, we will rage against strife

So take your footballs, your beer and your racing machines
We’ll settle for fortran, c-sharp, comics and zines

Because we are rising from the ashes like that bird-I think it’s a stork
To proclaim a new age, yes the time of the dork!

It’s not easy growing up in the lakes of Southside Philadelphia. You have to have smarts-Philly lake smarts to keep your head above water so to speak. Ronnie James is just such a jellyfish. He was born in the harshest of conditions and learned from a young age that a clear head and quick mind are the keys to keeping yourself straight in a tough situation.

when he was old enough he leveraged his love of music into a position as tour support for the powerhouse rock group Dio. It was his key to a better life. Once off the streets, Ronnie James was able to parlay his experiences into several self-published, self-help novels. His breakthrough work, "When Trouble Strikes, Keep Your Legs About You" sold nearly 2,500 copies and landed him an AM radio spot.

After a few years of radio time, RJ came to us hoping for a change an a simpler, less hectic lifestyle (of course we’re not quite sure how you can get much less hectic than AM radio), which we were happy to oblige him with.

RJ swears like a sailor, appreciates a good cheese steak and loves to filter feed in the bathtub.

Duuuuuuuuuuude.

Hi, my name is Geranium Rainbow. I was born in an organic kelp patch in the cold waters of Northern Cali, I thrived in an environment built on honesty, faith and freedom of expression. I believe in spiritual exploration that allows one to grow into the true color they were born to become, you know? I totally don’t get harshness, right? I am looking to be united in a family that believes in the code of color and love, you know?

peace

We just finished up Crafty Wonderland‘s Super Colossal Spring Show at the Oregon Convention Center. We had a great time and got to talk to a lot of our fellow crafters that we really only get to re-connect with during show times. We’re always amazed at the wonderful talent that resides here in Stumptown. One of the best things about being part of this scene for a couple years now, and getting to know many of the talented artists, is that we all seem to get better and better at what we do each year. That constantly growing and evolving skill set and expertise is great to watch and to be a part of. Everyone is so dedicated to their respective areas, it’s just awesome.

A definite high point of the show was that we did our first ever radio interview. It was only about five minutes long, but we got to talk about what it’s like to be doll makers on a daily basis, our thoughts about art and a bit about our plush making process. The interview was for the weekly show Convention Crashers on pdx.fm and airs today at 3p.m. After that, the show will be available in podcast form on the iTunes store.

As always Crafty was great (thank you Cathy and Tori), and we are eagerly looking forward to their Super Colossal Holiday show in December. Thanks to everyone who came out and supported us. And a huge thanks to Jolby for their ongoing support of what we do and who we are.