OCCUPY Off the Beaten Path ::: Holiday Bizarre Bazaar

With the season of giving horrifically underway, The Occupy movement offers a glimmer of hope for indie vendors & is here to save you from doing something completely immoral: Doing all of your holiday shopping at the "big box corporate machine" stores.


Occupy Off the Beaten Path... You'll not be let down what these vendors have to offer: Unique rare gifts for your or a loved one. Shop Indie & Shop Local. Your support is the lively hood of the community so make sure that you spread the word.

Your support helps to keep Detroit cutting edge Bookstore in business. Offering Italian sodas, fresh brewed coffee & teas, and a place for like-minded Metro Detroiter's to gather for social, educational, and the most avant-garde events around town.

Shop Troll

War Pony Candy Forge
Sticks & Stones

Maple Valley Fibers
Bits & Bobbles

Spectra Nova
Amalgamy Creations

AND Santa Clause is going to be there too
Bring the Kids for Pictures!!!

Off The Beaten Path
Holiday Bizarre Bazaar

23023 Orchard Lake Rd., Farmington, MI 48336

December 11th 2011 12:00-6:30

The Infernal Device - Huge Mechanical Sculpture and Painting

The Infernal Device - Huge Mechanical Sculpture and Painting

Hey all, I gotta share another awesome project by some fellow artists friends of mine! I had the pleasure of going out to Grand Rapids to support Myke Amend & his crew on their last Art Prize endeavors, and now he is at it again with two other very talented guys, Steve Brook & Todd Cahill. They are doing a Kickstarter, please pledge & share!

The Infernal Device is a large mechanical animated sculpture conceived by steampunk/retrofuturist artist Myke Amend, enginartist Steve Brook and steam modeler Todd Cahill as a collaborative entry for Artprize (the country’s largest open entry art competition, held in Grand Rapids MI). Our intent is to build a dynamic sculpture using 90% Vintage, Re-purposed materials that will be powered entirely by alternative energy sources (wind, solar, steam). The final work will be an stunning combination of moving 3-D sculpture and 2-dimensional painting, with many articulating features working together as one cohesive work of art. Our mission is to mark mankind’s progress through the industrial age into now in a single sculpture. Our goal is to combine old and new world technology to present a visually stunning, monumental engineering tribute of Art and Science. If you would like to be a part of this project, please consider cashing in on the many awards available at our Kickstarter page. We are doing this all out of pocket, and the expense is something as astounding as the project is tremendous. It would *really* mean a lot to us. Our kickstarter page: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/infernaldevice/the-infernal-device-an-enormous-mechanical-and-pai Myke Amend: http://www.mykeamend.com Steve Brook: Page coming soon Todd Cahill: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfYjBFtrUj0 (read less) The Infernal Device is a large mechanical animated sculpture conceived by steampunk/retrofuturist artist Myke Amend, enginartist Steve Brook and steam modeler Todd Cahill as a collaborative entry for Artprize (the country’s largest open entry art competition, held in Grand Rapids MI). Their intent is to build a dynamic sculpture using 90% Vintage, Re-purposed materials that will be powered entirely by alternative energy sources (wind, solar, steam).

The final work will be an stunning combination of moving 3-D sculpture and 2-dimensional painting, with many articulating features working together as one cohesive work of art.

Our mission is to mark mankind’s progress through the industrial age into now in a single sculpture.

Our goal is to combine old and new world technology to present a visually stunning, monumental engineering tribute of Art and Science.

If you would like to be a part of this project, please consider cashing in on the many awards available at our Kickstarter page. We are doing this all out of pocket, and the expense is something as astounding as the project is tremendous. It would *really* mean a lot to us.

Kickstarter ::: Sings with Stars

Sings With Stars ::: Kickstarter

I first met Bethany Grenier at the World Steam Expo last year 2010. Her sense of style was the first thing I noticed. It was so original that I had to compliment her when she came over to check out my wares. Later that year I had the pleasure of going out to Grand Rapids, MI in support of the a project that Bethany and her friends were working on, called Cirque Acirca for Art Prize 2010. During my second trip out that way for Art Prize, I got a chance to hang out with Bethany & Bethalynne Bajema first hand. It was good times, as we ran about the city, shared a drink, and later hooked up with many other people at Destination 1111 for the Show there that night featuring many of the cities talented artists, as well as some imported talent. During that time, she gave me her first book: Sings With Stars, which I thoroughly enjoyed while working late nights at my work.

Now she is preparing to launch her second book at the World Steam Expo 2011. Help her to reach her goal!!!

The Black Ibis Project ::: KICKSTARTER

To be an artist is a challenge, to be an artist with huge dreams is even more of a challenge. I understand this very well, having scrimped and saved, sacrificed things for my self, in the name of art and making art.

Kickstarter: The Black Ibis Project : Pledge HERE

When I first became familiar with Bethalynne's work, I was floored. Looking at a all of the detail, I imagined all of the painstaking hours and years of hard work that she has poured into her work. When I asked how she did it, she hinted along the lines of digital collage & painting. And again, I was amazed again at the sheer intricacies of her work because THAT was a whole different ball game.

"The Black Ibis is a simple story that revolves around one sister trying to find the other sister who has become lost. It becomes not so simple when we find the other sister has become lost in underground world of secret cities and dark cabarets. This is a pretty basic premise for a story, especially one based on this type of fantasy. However, this is my dark fairy tale so it's an absurd, surreal little story seeped in my wonky characters and artwork style. I'm hoping others will enjoy it as much as I've enjoyed creating it. I am so proud to have seen it from starting idea and doodles to having a finished illustrated story and two tarot decks to show for. Samples of the Black Ibis (and I am adding to this page often) can be found here: http://bethalynnebajema.com/scriptorium/?page_id=1921

What I want to do is earn enough money to invest in the initial printing of the first book of the Black Ibis graphic novel series and the major arcana tarot deck that goes along with the novel. I want to do this so I can offer the book and tarot deck at the World Steam Expo this coming May. It will be the first time I've attempted a more formal launch of a project of mine. Normally my work is print on demand because I seldom have the funds to make large orders and keep a ready stock of my own work on hand. "

I hope that I have had the absolute pleasure to introduce you to something new. But whether or not you are familiar with Bethalynne's work, I hope that you will consider supporting this project to help fund a hard working artist dreams. Not only in the name of The Black Ibis, but also in the name of ART!!!

of Mourning & Haberdasheries

You don't have to be in mourning and you might want to save your hair art for post-apocalyptic endeavors, so why not take a bit of morbid history and wear it, hmmmm?

Ascot, Cravat, Tie Tacs

Buttons my friend, you will find indiscriminately labeled as haberdashery on Etsy, maybe eBay, but my Dear Ladies and Gentleman, you shall find my buttons fit for a gentleman in such longful attire. My Tie Tacks are elegant, dark, and properly labeled for Haberdashery affairs.


Victorian mourning buttons my friends, set in "time". For all you gents out there. ;) Now available at Off the Beaten Path Bookstore in Farmington, MI, with Ties that Bynde Corsetry, and as always on Etsy & with me at show.


You can thank the dashing Prince Albert, consort of Queen Victoria who tugged on her heart strings until her own death in 1901. When strict mourning etiquette and attire became the norm in those days, so came the means to keep it all wrapped up. Black Glass buttons were extremely fashionable and handsomely decorated.

Also Join me May 7th as Off the Beaten Path presents :Gear Up Bizarre Bazaar: in lieu of The World Steam Expo Memorial day weekend 2011.

PRICES SLASHED IN ETSY SHOPPE

Due to the fact that I am in a position to slash prices, I am going to pass some savings onto my customers & potential customers as well! I don't like sitting on my stuff, and I need to move some items, so hopefully some of you dear readers will take this opportunity to grab it all up!!! More vintage stuff to list coming soon ;)

Graphoscope : A Traveling Photo Dispensary : Support Detroit Photographer & Artist Lex Machina

One of the most important thing in today's day and age is to support independent artists in their endeavors, especially those that practically make a living off of what they do. With the lack or art in schools & funding being cut for the arts world wide, it is up to folks like you and I to support unique individuals and their work. Lex is doing a kickstarter for her project Graphoscope. Her work has an antique quality to it that hearkens back to the days of Tintypes & Daguerreotypes. Please visit the link below to read about this truly one of a kind project and help support her work, and, she is making cabinet cards :D !!!

: Kickstarter ~for~ Graphoscope :
:A Traveling Photographic Dispensary:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/lexmachina/graphoscope-a-travelling-photographic-dispensary

Lex Machina

" Graphoscope is a project that I've been working on for about 3 years now. I've been doing similar portraiture for various small projects in that time and now I'd like to take this work much farther.

This project specifically will use research and experience perfecting digital methodologies for recreating the look of individual photos from my antique collection in recording the patrons of counter-culture events, like conventions, for posterity. It will also generate prints, stereoviews, mounted cabinet cards, and other modern relics, available to the patronage and supporters, and finally, in 2012 a photo book of the most interesting photos from the project will be released. " ~Lex Machina