SDCC 2007: LOTRG

So, thanks to our devoted forumite, Blackthorpe, many LOTRG members were sporting these uber-cool laminated badges. Contact Blackthorpe for more information on how to obtain one for yourself (if you’re a member, that is). Of course, it’s not like I need any help identifying our good members! Heck, I’ll even remember your real name for free. ;) We had a good number of members in attendance, though we were not all together at the same time. Dunedain87, choopie, fritz, and radagaster were the mods representing. We also caught up with Ithilethiel, cco805, abandonada (and her friend asilomarworks), jedichef, and diane. Forgive me if I’ve gone and forgotten anyone. I’m sure there were other members lurking about...

…Oh yes, that ever-elusive Gothmog. I do have a picture of his face, but I think the Lord of the Balrogs would fry me to a crisp if I posted that! Such a spoil-sport. Keep your eye out for that shirt and you should have no trouble spotting him! :P

We hope to have a strong contingent at SDCC 2008, so feel free to contact me via PM on the boards or my email: marybluefairy[at]lordoftheringsguide.com (cross fingers it doesn’t end up in the junk mail) if you need more information or assistance.

SDCC 2007: Weta-thon!

So, truth be told, I don't even remember how it started. I found myself blabbering on and on about cupcakes. With trilobites on them. Now, anyone who knows me knows that I can't help but take a joke from the hypothetical to reality. Thus there I was on Wednesday afternoon, putting chocolate frosting on chocolate cupcakes. I topped them with gummi centipedes and tarantulas because I couldn't find any trilobites. Imagine that. I very nearly ordered a trilobite mold so I could make them out of chocolate. Crazy. Anyway, I popped by the Weta booth at the close of Preview Night with 2 dozen gooey chocolate cupcakes (a half dozen were chocolate-butterscotch ones) and that's what they looked like. They got a little melty in the San Diego heat. Wetabug was kind enough to take the cupcake carrier back to her hotel and wash it, how nice, right?! Apparently, I started some sort of cupcake avalanche at the Weta booth...how terrible. ;) *oh, btw, I stole these pics from the wetaholics site.

Well, since they wouldn't sell me anything on Wednesday night, I was desperate to get there as early as possible on Thursday. First, I made sure to beg Greg Broadmore to sign my "The Battery" calendar. Four Weta artists contributed artwork to it, including Broadmore. I got this from Warren Mahy about a year ago, it was awesome of him to send it to me. :) Mahy was also at Comic Con this year, so I stopped by to say "hi" to him as well. Oh, and yes, I rock. Hahaha...I also bought both Raygun prints. I'm a little disappointed that I didn't get there in time to buy #1 of each, but I got #4 and #5, so I shouldn't complain. I picked up a Mahy print as well. When I get a chance, I'll take pics of all these and post them.

While Broadmore was signing my prints, I picked up my pre-ordered mini-Manmelter raygun. I have it in a little plastic case (forgive the crappy lighting in the picture). It's a bit larger and heavier than I had expected. For $30, it was a steal. If you didn't know better, you could easily mistake pictures of it for the full-sized one. I was so busy chatting with someone about something that I didn't realize I should have asked Broadmore to sign the box (fabu design, btw!), so I had to trek on back Sunday like a fool to ask him. I'm a dork. Heh.

More SDCC musings on the way!

SDCC 2007: Iron Man

So I think this little guy will end up being the story of SDCC 2007. That's the Iron Man armor from the upcoming movie. The buzz coming off what we saw at San Diego Comic Con is going to be huge.

I just got back from San Diego a few days ago and all I can talk about is Iron Man. We were treated to two presentations, one on Thursday by director Jon Favreau and one on Saturday with Favreau and cast. Stars Robert Downey, Jr. (perfect Tony Stark, btw!), Gwyneth Paltrow, and Terrence Howard were in attendance. The footage was incredible, especially considering that almost everything we saw was pre-CG, in-camera shots. The origin story is addressed in the footage, which was cut to Black Sabbath's "Iron Man." We did get to see the iconic red and gold suit on screen and a flying Iron Man.

Attendees scored some sweet Iron Man swag: a t-shirt (which Favreau himself sported on Saturday) and poster. A second t-shirt could be made on the spot if you visited the Paramount booth. The huge Stark Industries crate was opened on Saturday at the Marvel booth, revealing the OG Iron Man above. Eagle-eyed fans also spotted the Stark 4 license plate on Tony Stark's Audi, parked in front of the nearby Omni Hotel.

This is one comic book movie that should NOT disappoint.

There was so much to see and do at SDCC that I will probably spend the next few months blogging about each one!

My PhotoSite

Oh woe is me! My PhotoSite is going to be shut down. :( Well, the whole site is actually shutting down, but still, I must be the one most affected by this! ;) Ah, how I loved my PhotoSites...I had 2 or 3 of them. So easy to use, so nice and professional-looking. I even paid for one of them. Well, go on and enjoy the gallery, relive the good ol' days, until September 27, I'm not moving over to Snapfish. Sigh.

Harry Potter Bust Up

I must apologize for being such a very bad blogger! All work and no collectible hunting has made me very cranky. Grrr.

So, in honor of the new Harry Potter movie and of course, the book, I present a little bauble. I picked this up at the mall last week while I was searching for Harry Potter treats (for some goodie bags I made for the movie). Anyway, it is the Timeless Collection Harry Potter Bust-Up by Gentle Giant.

Little Potty comes in six pieces, and is very easy to assemble. At about 2.5" tall, I have to say it's not quite worth the $6.99 and tax I paid, and I probably won't be getting any others, but I do like it. The likeness is fair and the quality is consistent with something this size, though I wish the shirt was a bit more white (it's kind of peachy in real life). I found the box a bit confusing, what with all the pictures of other Bust-Ups. I feared it was one of those "randomly inserted" things, where you have no idea what figure is actually inside, especially since the box was taped up.

While I'm on the subject of Harry Potter, I'm actually hunting for a good spice cabinet, preferrably one with glass doors. Why, you ask? Well, I am wanting to put together a potions display for a class I might possibly teach next year. Something like this (for under $30, I forgot to bid on this one on Ebay) would be ideal. Even better if it comes with bottles. Let me know if you find one! Otherwise, I suppose I'll haunt the flea market. Ooh, and a birdcage! Oh, but I'm getting ahead of myself again...

I might be dressing up for the book party Friday night, you all should too! Happy Deathly Hallows-Eve!

POTC

A girl is allowed to have an unhealthy appreciation for pirates, right? :)




I just got these yesterday, a gift from a friend. It's some sort of promotional material from the POTC online game, which I believe she got at the Pirates showing at the El Capitan in Hollywood. There was a Beta disc (which my brother will get to play with) as well as this litho (game artwork?) inside the envelope.

Since we're on the subject of pirates, I picked these up at Disneyland a while back. I really like the artwork they did for the playing cards, based on the ride, of course. The keys I thought were useful as a prop for school. They appear to be made of metal, they're pretty heavy.

Leonidas Helmet

I saw this.

I want it.