State of Collection

 The pandemic changed a lot of our habits. The uncertainty of early 2020 when everything was happening. along with our other responsibilities at that time. made us more aware of our finances. 

So the first thing we had to cut down on was our leisure spending. We had to tighten our purse strings, cut down, and only concentrate on necessities. We didn't really buy much toys during this time period.

The following year, 2021, things were better defined financially but our interests have spread out. I re-ignited my pin collecting. Nate focused on his record collection. Being in lockdown, in our home, had us looking around and appreciating what we already have. Lockdown for us homebodies was something we never considered a prison. We liked our home, we liked being home. Our home had become a place where we can be ourselves, we had privacy and we had everything we needed.

Except display space. That's where we are at right now. Our room has shelving and my office is also technically the toy room. But we have so much more toys. We want to display but we want to work on other parts of the house too. So this, along with a waning interest slowed us down with toy collecting.

Not a lot of new stuff is catching our interest honestly, and I am finding myself choosing where to spend my money. If there's a toy drop vs a pin drop happening at the same time, I am surprised to find myself choosing to get the pin. But that doesn't mean no more toy buying. There's always some toymakers we purchase from consistently but we are getting picky with them too.

What we are in the lookout for is toys from the past that we've always wanted but didn't have the opportunity to obtain at that time. 

Like these two custom Partyballs by Paul Kaiju we picked up recently for a good price. I remember seeing these two in either a show. convention or a shop drop. I just can't recall where or when. 

The average collector has a lifespan of 3-4 years. I've seen many coming into the hobby, spending money like water, and then quietly disappearing and offloading their collection. It's these type of sales I look for and often you get good deals. 

Nate and I play the long game. We'll wait you out.

We're on the hunt for the older stuff. The toys that got us into the hobby in the first place. It's time to curate, not just collect. We are not completely out of the game but just pickier. Refining. 

Hopefully, down the line we'll have the display cases we've always wanted to properly display our extensive collection. 

Summer Slime 3

I am trying to remember when PK left SDCC and started holding his sales offsite.

I am checking my Event albums and the last pics I have of him in SDCC was 2011. I think after that it was moved to 5&A Dime for two years so that's 2012 and 2013.

Then in 2014 PK's offsite event went to Gunnzo in Old Town. It was called A Fistful of Dominoes. I believe Domino Jack was first released during this event.

In 2015 it was still held at Gunnzo and Bwana Spoons joins the line-up for the offsite. No official event name as of yet just Paul Kaiju and Bwana Spoons event. Same name and deal in 2016.

Around 2017 was when an official name, Summer Slime, was picked and it seemed to have stuck. Rampage Toys also joined the line-up for the offsite.

Now we are in 2019 and I think PK's offsite event is now called Summer Slime (3) and Anime Jungle joined the event. Not sure if they are coming back or another artist will come next year.

Nate and I almost did not make it this year. We currently have some family issues that we are dealing with and we were seriously considering not going. I was half and half thinking it through all the way to two weeks prior to the event when I said, screw it. We plan this months in advance. We need to maintain a sense of normal in these trying times and it was one day. So Nate sorted the car rental a week before Summer Slime and made plans to head out.

Nate doesn't mind the drive as he and I always talk about stuff when we go down to San Diego. I make it a point to take a pic of the power plant in San Onofre for obvious reasons when we go down the 5.

We also like to stop at Phil's BBQ in San Marcos before we head off to Old Town for the event. I like the fact that there's no early morning rush to get ready to line up etc etc. We can take our time getting there.

Once we arrive in Old Town SD, Nate drops me off at the site as I refuse to walk up that hill and he goes to park the car. The first thing I do is take pics and say hi to people at the event. PK and Gunnzo generously provide the space and have food catering available for attendees.

PK never disappoints with his offerings! The half and half figures along with the Sorbet versions of Boss Carrion, Mockbat, Hyper Kraken and Machine Gun Ghost were one of the most sought after toys. I believe they were very limited runs of five maybe or less.

Bwana's Peanut Killer debut at this event. It is adorable. I love how the figure looks completely hand sculpted. Bwana painted them well and you can't beat that price.

He also brought a lot of customs minis. I love the Puppy Killers but something else caught my eye on his table.

I love the Teenage Randall figure and these customs were painted awesome. It was hard to choose which one to get. There's literally something for everyone with Bwana's selection. So happy I was able to score my first choice. I love Frederick the Beetle too but not fond of green but I miss that figure so much and wish more would be released.

Nate picked up this weirdo. I told him the eyebrows throw me off. He got one anyway. LOL He got a tailed one which I'm not sure is less creepier or more creepier.

Rampage toys brought quite the selection of micros and I made sure to nab a unicorn for me and another for a collector who is also building a herd.

He also made this awesome Boss Charged custom pair. I was like, I want to go home with money left so to my surprise I was able to resist. I think it was still available when I was at his table. Temptation successfully denied.

More socializing and catching up with old friends and opening the blind bags for the Peanut Killers was fun. It was nice to catch up with everyone.

When the event ended Nate and I drove back home. The drive back was faster than the drive down but I love this time as he and I talk about the event, what we were expecting, what we got, people news etc etc. The drive went by fast and we got home safely to our furkids.

Nate and I always look forward to this event. Hope to be able to attend next year!

PSEUDOMORPHISM A.K.A Ladies Night

This was the show we almost forgot until two weeks ago when I was reminded in a passing conversation. I just spent money on a gorgeous Sleeping Killer custom too. My alotted toy money was spent!

I wish I was prepared and had more funds like the previous Paul Kaiju show. I was able to purchase my Dancing Boss art piece after everyone has made their purchases and he was just sitting there, unbelievably available.

Alas, I did not have the same opportunity this time and there were opportunities available but the fact that I came away with my number one choice was awesome!

I had been seeing teaser pics of the Vertebrata on Paul Kaiju's Instagram and I fell in love with her. I have one of the resin Strawberry Stigmata girls and she has been literally in the middle of our shelf display by herself surrounded by other PK monster creations for some time. I have seen the Dada headed girl and I hope that one will see production someday but I had no idea that Vertebrata was not just a promise on the horizon but she was coming and coming soon.

I had an opportunity to ask SuperJunk if she had any input on Vertebrata's design and she indicated that it was a straight collaboration between Kaji-san of Blobpus fame and Paul Kaiju. I was told that Blobpus did her skirt and one of the arms, (not sure which one), and Paul Kaiju did the body and head. They also were able to use parts of the Mockbat attachments for her hair which is sweet as her design possibilities regarding the head will have variety.

Nate and I got to TAG in the early afternoon yesterday. I wanted to be able to take pics without rushing and really look at all the pieces and plan the evening. I wanted a Vertebrata but I was not sure which one. When I got to the gallery there were more girls plus they were offering the unpainted ones as well which was a nice surprise.

As I was checking each girl out I kept wandering back to the Blobpus side. The gallery split the pieces on two sides. Left was Blobpus works and right was Paul Kaiju and in the middle was their collaboration masterpiece, Vertebrata.

I kept looking at this one particular girl. She had silver bluish skin and gold metallic highlights on the skirt. She reminded me of a steam punk design.I really liked her a lot.

Nate had also been wandering around and was looking at the Salamander Joe customs from both artists and the Boss Head Blobpus mashup.

A camera full of pictures, two tickets and heads buzzing with so much awesomeness to process we decided to go have lunch. Our original plan was to go to our favorite panini place but going there and finding parking when we got back was going to take awhile so we decided against it and eat nearby and talk about what we had just seen.

We like variety in our collections. So we had specific figures in mind. After looking at our pictures while we ate, I told my husband I am going for a girl. Nate agreed that she was beautiful and I love hearing the words, "Get what you want babe." Depending on price, maybe I can sneak in something small too.

Nate had been eying the Mockbat and Salamander Joe mashup. But he was realistic and we both concluded certain pieces will go fast due to popular demand. So he made his first, second, third etc etc choices. Considering fate has a big chance on your placement since it was lotto style we planned conservatively.

Anyways, we took our time eating and headed off to get some coffee and killed time by discussing the pieces.

We made way our back to TAG to have a last look and to wait for the show to start. Outside the gallery we reconnected with a friend we have not seen since SDCC. We used to see each other more often when we did the art galleries. He has helped me in the past and he still does up to now.

Ted I owe you $5. LOL

The show soon started. Todd and company did a great job keeping the process and purchasing smooth. There was a purchasing limit. One per each artist and it can't be the same figure. That was fair and gave everyone a chance to come home with something. I think I was the 9th person called? Not really sure.

Connell was my personal shopper and I checked out the girl I wanted and she was available! I got her and she was a bit more than I calculated so my second choice was limited. The Vertebrata I got was a Blobpus custom so I went over to check out Paul's side and I picked up an awesome Morning Man custom.

Nate was two or three people behind me and by the time he got there most of his picks were already sold. He was contemplating the last Blobpus mashups available but he ultimately decided to purchase another Vertebrata and Morning Man. I didn't know what he got until we were in line at the cashiers. I was expecting him to pick up other pieces. I was quite pleased with what he selected and after we paid he showed me which ones.

   

Nate picked up the Devil Man Tribute Vertebrata by Paul Kaiju on the left and that awesome Morning Man Custom by Blobpus on the right. I cannot even begin to say how pleased we are that we were able to have a Vertebrata and a Morning Man from both artists. What attracted him to this particular Vertebrata was how the skirt was painted. He loved the little details on the squid and tentacles. That Morning Man on the right was just insanely painted. 

After the initial rush of purchasing I spoke with my husband about what we got and what was sold and we conversed with other people to see what they got and generally enjoyed conversations with our friends and other fellow collectors.

It was a lovely evening and we cannot wait to have these toys in hand. We left early and had a late dinner and we were both tired and turned in early.

Nodame,  our Alpha Cat who sleeps with us, was very attentive last night and he spent quite a while kneading both of us while purring like a beast. It was a good way to end a hectic day.

FIZZY Boss Carrion by Paul Kaiju

Our newest Boss Carrion brings refreshing colors to our Paul Kaiju collection!