Pre-Orders, Advice, Crafty Wonderland, Open House & More!

Hello!
Today is a big day, news-wise.
First of all, I have a giant crock of Beija food on the stove. Well that's not the big news, just an update.
Another update- I'm reading A Queer & Pleasant Danger by Kate Bornstein and it's terrific. Also she has a Harry Potter tattoo. Did you know?

Okay,

1. PRE-ORDER Calling Dr. Laura by January 1st & GET A HAND-DRAWN BOOK PLATE sent right to your door. Click here for details about the book & how to pre-order. 
If you send me your receipt with address to CallingDrLaura at gmail , I will send you a book plate.
So Easy!
If you have a specific person you'd like it written to, please include that.


2. New Advice is up at Ask Nicole Georges.
 2.5 I want to do an illustrated advice column somewhere. But where?

3. I'll be at Crafty Wonderland this weekend selling calendars, prints, doilies and hand-made holiday cards. Check this out: if you come to my table, I will draw you a simple holiday card for $5. No, you can not use this opportunity to email me a photograph of your pet and get a 1000% discount on a pet portrait. You can, however, come say hello, tell me "I want a manatee wearing a Santa Hat that says 'Happy Festivus, Karl'", and I will draw it for you on a blank card on the spot and hand it to you.
As of now, these are in-person only.

4. December 15th I am having an Open Studio sale & open house!
It is December 15th from 2-7 p.m.
Come see where I draw things, look at original art, get bargain basement last-minute discounts on calendars and prints, and get one of those $5 Hand-Drawn Holiday Cards !
I will probably also have snacks. How could I not?

5. I am still booking a giant book tour for February and March with Cassie J. Sneider. Check it out, and if you'd like us to come and speak to your school or library, please contact us!

6. I have yet to send out all of the Thank You cards, calendars & drawings to people who so kindly donated to Beija. I am still catching up, and I promise I did not forget about you.
As an update: Beija is doing well. She is on some anti-cancer herbs, getting a homemade diet, and getting special cancer-dog privileges like extra pets and access to sleeping under the covers in the human bed. 


Okay, I think that's it.
Take care and thank you so much,
n.g.

Send Me A Birthday Card

Hello strangers and friends,
My birthday is December 10th.
Do you want to send me a birthday card?
I certainly would like that.

Nicole J. Georges
PO Box 12763
Portland, OR
97212


I will send you a Thank You post card to thank you.

xoxo
n.g.

Crafty Wonderland, Open Studio, Live Advice

Hello! I wanted to let you know about a few upcoming events in December:

1. December 8th & 9th I will be tabling at Crafty Wonderland!!!!

2. December 15th I am having an Open Studio visit/Art Sale. It is from 2-7 p.m.
Email me or visit the FB Page for more info. 

3. December 22nd I am giving LIVE ADVICE at Gridlords at the Waypost.

Now Book: 2013 Tour with Cassie J. Sneider!

Hello!
NOW BOOKING: 2013 Book Tour with Cassie J Sneider!
We will be driving around America in February and March of 2013. We would like to see you in the South and on the East Coast. Would you like to see us? Invite us to your school, library or bookstore!
Email nicolejgeorges at gmail dot com for info, or visit http://beijamon.tumblr.com for tour info.

Thank you!
xoxo
n.g.
 

2 Anthologies & 2013 Calendars & Art Show

Good Morning!

Here is some news for you:
2013 Invincible Summer Calendars are available through my Etsy store, and at Powells City of Books in Portland. I'll be taking some over to Land/BuyOlympia, and Crafty Wonderland today. Pick one up!

If you ordered one online, I'll be packing it up tonight and shipping them out tomorrow.

More business: I have comics in two anthologies that have recently been released- Sister Spit and Digestate. Check them out. I am in good company in both.

http://www.powells.com/biblio/1-9780872865662-5

http://www.atomicbooks.com/index.php/digestate.html

Oh- and I just hung an art show at Juniors, my favorite breakfast cafe in Portland.
It is even featured in my book (which I'll be posting a pre-order link to soon).

It will be up for one month. Go check it out!

xoxo
n.g.

TONIGHT: Cartoon College Documentary THURSDAY: Sister Spit Reading

Poster by the very-talented Karissa Sakumoto

My tour diary from 2010 is in here!

Hello! Tonight at the IPRC (SE 10th & Division) we are showing the film Cartoon College, about the Center for Cartoon Studies in Vermont.
It is at 8 p.m, and special guest ALEC LONGSTRETH will be in
attendance for a Q&A after the film. This is currently the only screening of
this film in Portland! BYOPcorn. $5. Bargain!

This Thursday, I'll be reading at Powells City of Books with
Michelle Tea, Sara Seinberg & Cooper Lee Bombardier to celebrate
the release of the Sister Spit Anthology from Sister Spit's new imprint
from City Lights Books. I believe that is at 7:30 p.m.  

The Tig Notaro of Dogs

Hello Dear Readers,

Beija had her ping pong ball sized tumor removed two weeks ago today.
She recovered from surgery beautifully, but has had two misfortunes befall her in the past week:
She had a completely random bout of Vestibular Disease which required hospitalization, and when
she came home, she fell down the basement stairs.
She was very sore and out of sorts for the first few days, but B
 has regained her pep and is
on the mend.

 Her tail remembered how to wag, she is going on walks and has regained an appetite.
She has a slight tilt and a new nickname ("Tilt") ,and is jumping into the car and up the doggy steps to the bed like a champion.

I'll know she's completely healed when I catch her rolling on her toy on my bed after breakfast, but in the meantime, thank you for your support and  your prayers and thoughts and witchy incantations and donations.

I am including an illustration (below) from this year's calendar: It's whales surrounding an injured whale in a formation called a Marguerite, or Spindle Formation. This is something that sperm whales do to protect each other. I first heard of this from an artist, Roger Peet, who sent out cards with a Marguerite formation printed on them after the community came together on his behalf. I was feeling the same magic and wanted to pass the message on. Thank you.

I will have a "July"-free version sometime in the future, but I wanted to show it to you now.

P.s. Beija is doing so well, we decided today was the day to bestow her with a fresh green collar for a fresh new start. She modeled it just this afternoon while reclining next to the new calendar. Good luck and good health, sweet B! 

Take care.
xoxo
n.g.

Idiopathic vestibular disease (IVD) means that the vestibular system in a dog has gone awry for no known reason. The vestibular system is what gives people, and dogs, their balance, coordination and equilibrium. When dogs develop IVD, their equilibrium becomes disrupted suddenly, dramatically and without warning. The profound symptoms of this disorder can incapacitate the dogs and are frightening for owners, as well. 


Dogs with IVD appear to be in considerable distress and discomfort, and the symptoms can quickly become debilitating. 

Symptoms of Idiopathic Vestibular Disease

Dogs with idiopathic vestibular disease suffer an extremely sudden onset of one or more of the following symptoms:

• Dizziness (labrynthitis)
• Loss of balance
• Disorientation
• Loss of coordination (ataxia)
• Reluctance to rise or stand
• Inability to rise or stand (recumbency)
• Nausea (recurrent bouts)
• Vomiting (sudden onset; recurrent bouts; may last for days)
• Loss of appetite (inappetence; anorexia)
• Loss of thirst
• Dehydration
• Falling
• Stumbling; staggering
• Circling
• Rapid irregular eye movements (nystagmus)
• Head tilt (mild to marked)

Most symptoms peak in about 24 to 36 hours, but varying degrees of incoordination and balance abnormalities can continue for a number of weeks. Despite the startlingly acute onset of IVD, almost all affected animals recover spontaneously, without extensive medical treatment. Occasionally, a dog will have a lingering head tilt.

 

 

 

 

Short Run, Calendars & Soft Serve: 3 things that are not depressing

Poster by Eroyn Franklin 

1.
I am going to be at Short Run Small Press Festival this weekend in Seattle. I will be giving advice, selling zines and comics and telling you about my book and selling calendars. Come see me!

Somebody else made this.

2.
Have you heard of this amazing Banana Soft Serve?
Seriously, if you have a food processor, go look at this.
I don't know why it works, but it works.

Calendar Cover, with a Beija walk-by

3.
Calendars! I am picking up calendars from the printers tomorrow and will be debuting them at Short Run in Seattle. AND they have HOLES in them this year. That's right- convenient for hanging on a push pin or a nail, HOLES.

You can order them on Etsy. 

I was feeling too fragile at the last minute to make a bold ink color choice, so I went with one I felt safe and comforted by , which was this lovely blue color. I love blue.
You can have pink calendars next year.

Lil' Bub

xoxo
n.g.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

2013 Calendar now available for Pre-Order!

 Hello! Well, while I sat around nervously waiting for news on my sweet dog's surgery today, I got a lot of scanning done and am almost finished laying out this year's calendar. Which means that it is now available for Pre-Order.
The calendar should be home from the printer the first week of November.
I will be premiering it at the Short Run comics festival in Seattle.

This is a limited edition. Last year I sold out by the end of December, so I do recommend pre-ordering if you can. They will be printed in a different color of ink- not black and white. I haven't decided what color yet, but I am leaning towards a dark red/mauve or green.

This year's calendar features:

2 Ornamental Chickens
1 parakeet
1 mouse holding a medal
1 boar piglet
2 French Bulldogs who could pass for Boston Terriers
1 Lil Bub
1 Joey
1 Baby Wallabee
1 Leaping deer
1 Painted sloth
9 Whales helping each other
1 Forlorn monkey
1 Masked Sharpei
AND MORE


Here is the link to more info on the calendars, and the official pre-order place. 

If you click the link and it says "Sold Out", just wait a little bit & click again, or tweet at me @nicolejgeorges and I will renew it a.s.a.p.

I think that's all.

Thank you very much, and for continued calendar customers and stores, thank you for your patience.
My deadlines have all been torn asunder by the recent dog health calamity, but I'm getting back on track.

Sincerely,

N.G.

Pupdate: Grouchy B is Coming Home

LIVE PUPDATE: Beija G. went in for a CT scan and Excisional Biopsy today, and both went well. She even gets to come home tonight. It's a long story that involved decisions regarding giant margins, muscle and bone, but basically I decided to have her tumor taken out via this Biopsy and then we will deal with the remaining
cancer cells with cancer-fighting herbs and see how that goes.
Over the past three weeks we have seen four different veterinarians, including a surgeon, a dog cardiologist, a normal vet and a holistic vet. During her surgery she also had an oncologist around for a fifth opinion.
All of these appointments, the surgery, and the opportunity to have an informed decision based on tests and the advice of specialists was all thanks to the generous donations of friends, readers, and complete strangers who just happened to want to help a small grouchy dog continue her life with me.
THANK YOU SO SO MUCH.

(This is not a post-op photo, btw. It's a couple of years ago.)

I haven't picked her up from the vet yet, but it seems like she can go home tonight, the same day as her surgery. I am over the moon that Beija got through the surgery and is on the road to recovery.

Thank you again. I know I already said it, but thank you again.

Sincerely,

Nicole J. Georges

PNBA

Confidential note to the lady at PNBA who said she reads this blog and asked about Beija.
Click to Enlarge.


For everyone else:
I went to the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association Trade Show in Tacoma this weekend and gave a short talk at their Celebration of Authors. Everyone I met there was really nice.  I know that sounds like a weird blanket statement, but literally every person I met there was nice. Not to mention, many of them reminded me of my sweet boss from In Other Words, Sue Burns. What's not to like about that?

Anyway, Thanks for being so nice, and I look forward to visiting your bookshops next year!

Thank you to Lagusta

Click to enlarge.

Lagusta at Lagusta's Luscious offered free delicious vegan chocolates to anyone who donated $100 or more to my sweet dog's health fund. She helped raise $1500 for Beija's medical costs, which is giant.
People were so generous and kind and we truly truly appreciate it.

Pupdate

Click to enlarge.

Thank You from Nicole & Beija Georges

Dear Friends,
Thank you so so so so so so much for all of your well wishes and contributions towards Beija's health fund. This is an overwhelming and intense time, but your support is... I don't even know what to say.
I'm so grateful. It's just made this time a lot better.  More eloquent words escape me.
People have been generous and kind towards a small grouchy dog who happens to be my best friend.
Thank you.
Thank you thank you thank you.

Beija tips her rope-bone to you.

Right now we are still in the testing & consultation woods, with her heart murmur needing a look-see (EchoCardiogram) before she can undergo any sort of surgery. I will let you know more as it happens.

Take care and thank you and please kiss your pets for me,

Nicole J. Georges
 

Regarding my external heart, Beija Georges

Hello, friends.

Beija Georges was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor today. She has a Soft Tissue Sarcoma.

  I took her to the veterinarian yesterday to test what was then a mysterious lump on her back. 

  I had to drug her for the occasion. She usually dons a muzzle at the vet's office, from which she hyperventilates and yelps and struggles. It's traumatic for everyone, so for the first time in 15 years I planned ahead. I put a pill into her favorite food (the tomato), and as I was feeding it to her I had a moment of guilt for tricking my best friend, so announced out loud "I put a downer in this tomato" as I was handing it to her, and she gingerly accepted it in her velvety Shar-Pei lips anyway.

  As I was waiting for it to kick in she was prancing around the house, approached me several times and gave me a dog kiss, which was nice and a little heart-breaking, since I knew that we were going in for something that was likely cancer. But the prancing and the dog kisses seemed like Beija showing (if not telling) me that she enjoys living. She enjoys this life that she has. She wags her tail, she eats tomatoes, chews kale stalks, hoards dog bones and skids across the floor chasing her tennis ball.

Gnawing Broccoli

ANYWAY, by the time we were seen in the vet's office, Beija Georges was practically asleep, involved in probably the worst stoner daze of all time, in which she got poked, prodded and biopsied. 

  Her very kind veterinarian found a heart murmur, rotten teeth and of course, the cancer.

  The cancer is the #1 thing on my mind.

  This particular kind of tumor is not known for spreading, and is often easy to remove. The placement of it makes things precarious (it's near her dear spine), but the vet (thus far) seemed confident that this was something that, if taken care of, could keep cancer out of the picture either forever, or for a good long while. 

So far, my vet's estimates are that the cancer procedure will cost approximately $1500.
If she needs an MRI to suss out the tumor's proximity to her spine and nerves it could be an additional $1500-$2000.
I do not have an estimate for the heart specialist yet.

  Beija's upcoming bills already outpace my savings account, and so I humbly present a Paypal donation button and ask you, my community of dog lovers (and maybe specifically Beija-lovers) to consider helping us out in this time of need. 
If you are an animal appreciator, a crotchety-dog-depicted-in-comics lover, or have ever met or felt fondness towards Beija or myself, please consider donating even the smallest scrap towards her veterinary fund. Even if it's $5. 
 

  Here are some things I can do to show my enormous appreciation:

If you donate anything at all, I will send you a thank you card.

  If you donate $20 or more, I'll make you a hand drawn thank you card, and I will send you a copy of my dog mini-comic "Muttley Crue" (starring Beija & Wishbone).

  If you donate $40 or more, I'll do those things, and draw a Beija on a larger piece of paper for you, saying "Thank You" to you (by name).

  More than $50, I'll do those things, AND send you a 2013 Invincible Summer calendar when they arrive (late Oct/early Nov).
If you don't want any of these things (besides the Thank You card!), please include a note saying this.




UPDATE: ADDED BONUS

Through extreme, giant, humongous generosity, my favorite chocolatier in the universe, 
Lagusta of Lagusta's Luscious has added a (vegan, delicious, ethical) chocolate bonus incentive: 
  
Toss her (Beija) $100 and I'll send you a free box of a special seasonal chocolate you can't get otherwise--Spicy Croissant Caramels. Just like the Croissant Caramels you know and love, only slightly spicy, to warm you up for fall. Just include a note saying you want the caramels with your donation, and she'll give me your details, ok? Go!

Here is a link to the normal Croissant-infused chocolate caramels. Now add winter spiciness and you have something that will possibly make you fall over with sensory joy. 


 
 Other things I'm doing/going to do  to try and rally funds:

I will be adding over a dozen original art pieces for sale on my Etsy page.

I will be putting up a garage sale section on my Etsy page.

Calendars:
2013 Calendars will be available for pre-order next week. If you donate to this cause now & want to pre-order a calendar in the coming weeks, please use the code BEIJA at checkout to get 20% off your calendar order.

Those are all the things I can think of for now.

Please wish us save voyage on this frightening new journey.

Thank you for considering it, from the bottom of my heart. 

Sincerely,
Nicole J. Georges

Yesterday: Post-tomato, pre-Vet visit, mid-kiss.

P.s. This is what I am imagining as Beija's theme song for beating cancer. I imagine her singing it to me, but if you want to switch our roles and have me singing it to her in your head, you can.

Maker Faire & Web Updates

Good Evening.

I will be participating in Mini Maker Faire at OMSI this weekend. I will be selling new original pieces, archival prints of all sorts, will be offering advice for bargain prices, and will be giving free drawing lessons for kids and adults who walk in on their knees pretending to be kids.
Come visit me!

Secondly, but very importantly, class act Harlan has helped to update my website, so if you go there you can now find some new illustrations and pet portraits featured.
I've also added a link to my advice column on the site, which is a recent thing and is only for adults. I have some exciting guests lined up to help answer your questions, so send them my way! Advice at nicolejgeorges dot com.

Okay, I think that's all for now.

BUT! I'm booking a book tour for February! If you live on the East or West coast and would like to have me come visit your school or bookstore, please be in touch.
xoxo
n.g.

LOST CAT in Portland

Hello! A friend of the family, my friend's cat, has disappeared. Her name is Seven and she was last seen in the Mount Tabor neighborhood of Portland, BUT she might be journeying back to her longtime home of the Arbor Lodge neighborhood, so please please keep an eye out for this very sorely missed feline. There is also a reward! Try your hand at being a pet detective! Please click & enlarge the flier above for info. Here's the Craigslist Posting for the sleuth in you, and a video link below. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQ1YuuAK5xM&feature=youtu.be

Frenchies for Obama 2012

This image inspired and dreamed up by Kelsey Wallace, whose French Bulldog Edith was glued to the t.v. during the Democratic National Convention. PLEASE SHARE WIDELY! Prints of this are available here. xo n.g.

New York, Modcloth, and some cool links.

HELLO! I have a few things to tell you.

PROLOGUE: I had a dream that Bitch Magazine's review of my book started with "Nicole Georges is so OVER." and then went on to say how I'd peaked in 2006 with Invincible Summer Volume II. When I woke up, however, I had a really nice blurb from Eileen Myles that referred to me as "epic". Thank you, Eileen! I think I was conjuring this blurb by staying up late reading her book, Inferno.

1. I am going to be reading THIS THURSDAY (August 30th) at Bluestockings in New York with the beautiful Cristy Road and Cassie J. Sneider.Come and see us!

2. I did an illustration for ModCloth's new stylebook. Click the link to see the outfit they put together inspired by my drawing! You can purchase prints of this in my etsy shop.

3. THE CALENDAR IS HAPPENING AGAIN THIS YEAR. I'm drawing it now.

4. There is something called the POC (People of Color) Zine Project and they are going on tour this fall. If I were you and I lived near any of the cities they're visiting, I would hustle myself over to one of their shows. If you don't live near any of their shows, check out their site anyway.

5. Two blogs I regularly read (both are for ADULTS ONLY):
Mrs. Morrissey by Tracie Egan Morrissey
and
Kat Stories by Kat Koshka

I think that's it for now. Okay. Goodbye. n.g.

Dogs on a couch

It's a little weird, but I like it.

I'm getting interviewed at Destination DIY tonight! I think there will be free beer and pizza there, but click on the link to check it out. Also, when do you get to see handsome CLUTCH McBASTARD in person? Hardly ever!

READINGS in August! Pdx & NYC

Hello! I have 3 readings to tell you about:

Clutch McBastard and I will be making a rare live appearance together, being interviewed live for Destination DIY at this event: Makin' It with DESTINATION DIY
Wednesday, August 22, 2012 at ADX in Portland
7:00pm until 9:00pm
Suggested $3-5 donation; ALL AGES:
It's a cool event! Details below.

I'm doing a reading at a house party in NE Portland
August 24th at 7 p.m. to celebrate the release of
Golden Brothers- sts's scandalous new book!
5205 19th street
WITH
HOPE HITCHCOCK
DEXTER FLOWERS
NICOLE J. GEORGES
RAKI KOPERNIK
and YOU



and finally
AUGUST 30TH
7-9 p.m. at Bluestockings in New York,
I'm reading some recent work with
Cassie J. Sneider and Cristy Road.
We are calling it Zine-A-Rama, and you may get some live advice out of the deal.



Here's some info on Destination DIY: "Makin' It: A listening party and project night," in partnership with SCRAP and ADX, is a strange pairing of rock music and public radio held together by hot glue. We'll have a live interview featuring zinesters Nicole Georges and Greg Means, authors of "Invincible Summer" and "Clutch". Bring your project to bead, weave or silkscreen while swigging free Full Sail beer and noshing on free Tribute's pizza! DJ Buzzkill will spin and we will listen to snippets of Destination DIY, the independent public radio show about all kinds of creativity. Bring your project or a few dollars for SCRAP, who will have gobs of crafty supplies. It all happens at ADX, the creative community space in Southeast Portland. So bring weird works in progress and get inspired by your own creative community!

New items in the shop!

Hello! Please check out my Etsy page, because I just posted the new Invincible Summer/Clutch split, Tell It Like It Tiz, the Vanport comic and the new, typo-free version of the Bad Roommate Zine! http://www.etsy.com/shop/spinstersummer

The split with Clutch is in its fledgling, photocopied stage, so I only have like 4 copies right now, but we will be doing an offset version soon, so if you miss out on this batch,keep your eyes out! xoxo

One of a kind sharpie shirts starring E.T. & Harry P.

I made some one of a kind shirts this morning for my friends Harry & the Potters. The shirts star E.T. and Harry Potter. I decided to make some for other humans, and they are in my Etsy store right now. They are $50, as they are customly drawn just for you. If I end up making a bunch via silk screen I will let you know. xoxo n.g.