Adventure Day Thursday 8-7-14

took a trip to the OC again for some good old tymie inspiration ....and it was time to get off the couch. I was originally going to the ceramics shop and art supply warehouse with a buddy, but he slept in so I soloed this one. I decided to stop by Amazing Comics in long beach first. I found a (kind of late) birthday present for my sister who will be in town this week. For myself I found an Iggy Pop action figure which is stone cold metal cool! They had an Astroboy but he was stuffed, and stuffed toys are not my deal... Almost got him but decided not to spend my whole budget there. I moved on to Kellys Toy Stop in Bunea Park on the corner of beach and ball (kind of a new spot I really like for old toys). I found a few older things there. One was an old 1974 talking batman alarm clock. It needs repaired though (if anyone knows where to get this fixed email me: popkustomshoppe@gmail.com) The shop next door had a few good things too. Across the street was a small kids amusement mini park with a mini White House where they have weddings etc... Also in there was a hobby shop premier hobbies (I think that was the name...) I found a Star Trek Scotty hot wheel and of course I had to get it. They had lots of snake and mongoose and hot wheel stuff and many cool kits. Very surreal town. Loads and loads of skanky hotels and wandering vagrants and yet they have lots of good shopping places. The strangest hotel I have wondered about is the Robin Hood hotel. I think it's in my top ten of places I never want to stay at. Overall, a pretty nice day. I am one lucky guy.

Visited by the ghost of Mr.Peanut?

I went to a junk shop in Lomita yesterday to find some new displays for my shop. I bought a magazine rack that looked like it had been sitting outside for a few years. I got it down to my shop and noticed it had to be touched up and then I noticed the low shelf needed fixed. Then I found a small piece of wood in it and I had déjà vu... Back when I worked at peanut records in Lomita, the owner, my friend Steve ramsdell (mr. Peanut) years ago was closing shop and asked me if I wanted anything and I told him I wanted the rack to display my stuff at home. He said I could pick it up, but I did not have means to get it then and he told me he was giving it to the junk shop down the block if I still wanted it. I was sitting at my shop and flashing back on that rack, and I remember Steve broke that shelf and told Roy to fix it. Roy (he was the manger) brought that piece of wood to do the job, but they got into a stand still on who had to fix it and there it is now in my shop. I guess it's up to me now. Steve passed away many years ago. This was a sign from him. This type of thing happens to me all the time if I am not paying attention to it. If I had known this was the same rack I may have hesitated on getting it, but this was Steve letting me know he is looking out for me still. I am on a good path now and when I am doing the right thing and taking care of myself and helping others now and then, these things happen. Karma comes around and you find home again (metaphorically, you find the good in you again) and every now and then the next world confirms your path. Well, at least that's what I think. Which is nice...

7-1-2014 Creative day...time for inspiration.

Went to Pop Monster toys in Torrance today and bought an Astroboy zipper pull, a book on Japanese mascots and talked about having some of my art in this shop. went to f.y.e next for toys and bailed quick cause that place is lame, lame, lame. last was an antique shop on pier ave. in Hermosa where mrs. Gooches used to be. I bought an Addams Family thermos for a friend who has the box, but if he has it already I will keep it. Got my copy of Gary Panter's Dal Tokyo in the mail this week too so tomorrow I will dream I am in Japan buying toys. 

Code Blue book release party

Grisham and Aicher families were both in attendance although it was an adult themed night. Arab from love canal told Sharon about when they had punk gigs at the hotel (sea port marina hotel, long beach) it had a punk rock Vegas type feel to the room. The turn out was awesome. Our punishment for making naughty books was writing our names 500 times, but it was so worth it. My thanks to Jack and his big family, thanks to Iris Berry, and thanks to my friends who came down (Bridget Randsom had a new haircut and I did not recognize her, you have a beautiful wife John!) good too see my friends. you can still get me to sign yer books at my shop (Aicher's Pop Kustom Shoppe at Crafted 110 22nd street, San Pedro, CA 90731 in warehouse 10, space 118a) where I still have signed copies of Code Blue, Untamed, my comic books, t shirts, trading cards and lots more. I am there Friday thru Sunday 11am to 7pm... Stop in and see me. You might ever catch me painting live. Thanks for a fun night all you monster kids. most of all thanks to my wife Sharon who is my everything. Rest in peace, Marla.

Take a break driver 8....

Took a look yesterday at some old shops I have not been to in awhile. Memory Lanes was first and I found a Snoopy Toothbrush in the box from 1974! I had this as a kid but I was not sure I needed this (the box was beat, but amazing it was all there) it was on sale (20% off) so I got it. Found 2 kid cups too. A Hanna Barbera and a Pink Panther cartoon cup. I left behind a Planet of the Apes cup because I think I have one already in my junk dungeon. The next stop was a few blocks over to Street Faire Antiques on Satori in old Torrance. I found 3 old kids reference books on cars and space with cool illustrations and the odd thing I found was a Kenny Loggins comes Alive RCA video disc which I thought would be a buck or two but they wanted 15 so sadly I left Kenny behind. (could have been a cool gift for my pal Pete who is his cousin.) I might go back (maybe some rainy day) for it because now it's in my mind and on my blog. What is this junk worth? Well, what it means to me is a smile in the morning when I drink my coffee. Someday it will find another home or who knows, but for now I will be glad that now and then a good hunt is still fun. I may need to garage sale some old stuff to get more junk when I need to get out of the house. All in a day....

New Eyeball Guitar Finished! May 2014

This is how it looked when I got it fro Dirk at Guitar Safari which is a local shop on 6th Street in downtown San Pedro, CA. It was from damaged stock which he repaired for me before I bought it (he saves me the re-purpose ready ones he comes across, but his shop is chock full of vintage goodness not just guitars. A great place to find treasure.)

This is the primer stage (after a good sanding to get a smooth surface that can hold the primer which is white acrylic spray primer. The taping takes time. I did most of this part down at my shop (Aicher's Pop Kustome Shoppe at Crafted craft market 110 e.22nd street in warehouse 10, San Pedro, CA 90731. I have an Etsy shop where I sell stuff too (I may post this one for sale their soon if peolpe are interested.... if this is  for you all my info can be found on my website which is: www.scottaicher.com

 

This is the mouth at the headstock

 

The finished guitar.... ready to get to shredding or hang on some dudes man cave rock wall.

Can you dig it?

Wilson Park Weekend

The Minutemen once played at this park with Red Cross. I went to get produce at the farmer's market and walk with my health class. Turns out just me showed up. (You can't always get what you want, but fresh produce is something I need. I strolled solo for a bit. I bought Sharon some flowers. They were so dense we had to use 2 vases.