McKay Used Books Book-or-Treat and Comic Logic Fall Lot Con

BOO-ks! I had fun evening last night from 5-7PM at McKay Used Books during their first Book-or-Treat Event in Manassas, VA. It was a very last minute show for me after just coming home from New York Comic Con (blog recap and photos to come soon from that show). They had games and candy for children and handled out passports so attendees could visit ever table to meet the vendors and get stamped. If they do this event again, I'd like to be able to be a part of it if I'm available.

On Sunday October 27, 2024 from Noon-4PM come out to the Comic Logic parking lot for their Fall Lot Con to peruse the goods and wares for sale from local creators, writers, artists, and more. Costumes are encouraged! There will be costume contests for kids, adults, and pets. Each vendor will have treats for kids to go "trick or treating" during the event. Curls Studio will be there with our big tent.

New York Comic Con is October 17-20, 2024

The East Coast's largest pop culture convention, New York Comic Con returns October 17-20, 2024 at Javits Center located at 429 11th Avenue. Carolyn Belefski and Joe Carabeo (Curls Studio) will be at Booth #2048 all four days (same location as last year, area with the low ceiling). The location is on show floor level 3. 

We will be giving a NYCC Exclusive Button gift featuring Curls eating a pizza with purchases $25+.

We are partnering with Cakes with Character to provide a complementary gift: If you visit both Curls Studio at Booth #2048 and Cakes with Character by Jean Schapowal at Booth #3077, you will get "stamped" and receive a large 3" button!

Curls Studio will have a revised Black Magic Tales 154 page omnibus comic book that has every Black Magic Tales story that has been told until this moment in time. We will have several of our hard enamel pins available for purchase -- including a few pins produced in 2024 (Annual Cicada, Peach Fuzz and Strawberry). We will also have prints of Avocado, which was produced last year. Carolyn Belefski's new character Everything Bagel will premiere at this year's NYCC as a glitter sticker. We will also have last year's Pineapple Chic glitter sticker.

Carolyn Belefski will be doing a special signing at National Cartoonists Society Booth #3810 this Thursday 1:00 PM – 4:00PM. 

Show Floor Hours 

Thursday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM 

Friday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM 

Saturday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM 

Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM 

Hope to see you soon in the Big Apple!

Baltimore Comic-Con 2024

Visit Curls Studio at Table E3

Friday, September 20 -- 1:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Saturday, September 21 -- 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday, September 22 -- 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Visit Curls Studio at Baltimore Comic-Con at Table E3 in Family Alley. Click on the map image above to see a large map of where to find us. We have a spinner wheel (which we found in the neighbor's trash and repurposed) -- with a purchase of any amount you can spin the wheel and get an extra something. 

This year, the Family Alley is sponsored by Scholastic. Scholastic’s Graphix imprint celebrates 20 years of graphic novels for kids.

Everyone say: Spoon! We are celebrating The Tick in Baltimore Comic-Con's Yearbook this year. Get your Yearbook signed at Curls Studio and we'll have these limited edition mini prints for consumption at Table E3. The original will be auctioned off during the art auction Saturday at 2PM upstairs in Room 339-342. 

Here are some "Curls Studio Visits..." Convention Films, produced by Astray Productions, to get you in the mood!

2008 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFyPIiWnZFA

2007 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDUL8zNv5FQ

As they say: I'll see you in Baltimore!

Small Press Expo 2024

This year's Small Press Expo will be held September 14-15, 2024. Visit Curls Studio at Table K11 at Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center (5701 Marinelli Road Rockville, Maryland 20852). 

Saturday, September 14 -- 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday, September 15 -- NOON - 6:00 PM

The latest issue of Magic Bullet (Issue #21) will debut at SPX this year -- look for a new Black Magic Tales story (completed in 2023) in it!

Fairfax Comic Con is August 17-18, 2024

Join us at Dulles Expo Center (4320 Chantilly Shopping Center, Chantilly, VA 20151) this Saturday and Sunday (SAT 11AM-5PM (VIP 10AM), SUN 11AM-4PM) for Fairfax Comic Con. 

Comic creators Joe Carabeo and Carolyn Belefski will be exhibiting with Curls Studio -- please swing by to say hello and browse the merchandise. 

 All weekend: Kids Love Comics will host an activity and coloring table with coloring sheets, how-to’s, crayons and markers, kids and their parents are invited to let their inner artist explore! 

1PM on Sunday "Comic Costume Academy with Carolyn Belefski"
Every hero needs a logo! Join artist and designer Carolyn Belefski (Curls) and learn how to incorporate graphic design elements to create an icon and establish your own powerful visual identity. Kids can then place the logos on the provided capes, and… up, up, and away! 

Children 10 and under get in free and must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Parking is free. Hope to see you there!

STORYBOX Comics Fair 2024

Curls Studio will be exhibiting at STORYBOX Comics Fair this Sunday, June 23, 2024 from Noon to 4PM at Third Hill Brewing (8216 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring MD, 20910). *$10 Admission* Hope to see you there!

Periodical and Annual Cicada Enamel Pins on Kickstarter

If you missed my Periodical Cicada pin project in 2021 -- we are running a Kickstarter to raise funds to make more since they sold out and I'm adding a green colorway to represent the Annual Cicada. You can pledge using the link below until July 12, 2024:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/carolynbelefski/periodical-and-annual-cicada-enamel-pins 

Currently two different broods of cicadas that emerge every 13 and 17 years are appearing in 2024 (for the first time since 1803). It is now a good time to celebrate the cicadas again! 

Both pins are the same design structure and will be produced at 1.5" tall. We will be using matte gold plating and translucent enamel for the wings. Each pin will be fixed with a brown rubber clutch and is packaged with a backing card made from real oak wood. The design portrays an hourglass shape of the body made with the overlapping wings that evokes time passage.

Thank you for your support and for sharing this project with your friends and bug enthusiasts.

Spring Lot Con is this Sunday, May 19, 2024

Who's ready for Spring Lot Con on Sunday, May 19, 2024 from Noon-4PM? Join Curls Studio at Comic Logic in Ashburn, VA with a bunch of local creators, artists, writers, and crafters for a nice day hanging out in the parking lot. Kaziville Food Truck and Anita's Shaved Ice will be around for lunch. We are excited to sell our comics and merchandise at our very first Lot Con.

Comic Logic is located at 44031 Ashburn Shopping Plz, # 281 Ashburn, VA 20147.

Peach Fuzz Enamel Pin - Part of Pintopia from BackerKit

Those of you who have been following my enamel pins designs might know that since 2020 I have been doing a project every year involving the PANTONE Color of the Year -- and this year the color is Peach Fuzz. 

We're raising funds to create limited edition soft enamel pins with a beautiful original illustrated Peach Fuzz design. The pins will be produced at 30mm tall with sleek rose gold plating. The inside of the eyes and pit nose will be represented with the etching technique. Each pin will be fixed with a clear rubber clutch and is presented with a backing card. 

 The 2024 PANTONE Color of the Year is Peach Fuzz -- captures our desire to nurture ourselves and others. It's a velvety gentle peach tone whose all-embracing spirit enriches mind, body, and soul. In seeking a hue that echoes our innate yearning for closeness and connection, we chose a color radiant with warmth and modern elegance.  

There is a sense of comfort and longevity within the symbolism of a Peach. Whether your strong glutes bring all the boys to the yard or you simply enjoy the taste of a juicy bite -- Peach Fuzz is here for you!

This is my first time using BackerKit, but I have done crowdsourcing before with ten successful Kickstarter projects under my belt. This is also my first time being a part of their initiative Pintopia -- a celebration of creativity and collaboration from a diverse group of artists collectively running enamel pin crowdfunding projects from March 28 - April 18, 2024.

Back the Peach Fuzz campaign and my collaboration partner "Diagnoses & Dice" from Arledge Comics before Thursday at 4PM EST (1PM PDT) to receive both of our collab pins at no additional cost.

Here is the link to Peach Fuzz: https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/carolyn-belefski/peach-fuzz-enamel-pin

Here is the link to Diagnoses & Dice: https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/arledge-comics/diagnoses-dice-an-enamel-pin-collection

The more Pintopia pins you back, the more FREE pins you can earn. ✨ 

⚔️ 2 FREE Cross Collaborative Pins if you back both pins from a cross collab project pair

💯 1 FREE Full-Color Pintopia 2024 Pin once ALL projects are 100% funded 

🏆 1 FREE Gold Pintopia 2024 Pin if you back 5 projects or more

Awesome Con 2024 #SpringIntoAwesome

Curls Studio will be at the 11th year of Awesome Con at Table JR-05 from March 8-10, 2024 at the DC Convention Center. Please view the map above to locate us.

On Saturday "The Other Side of The Table: Lessons From Creators" will be taking place from 7:45-8:30PM in Room 206 featuring Maria Laura Sanapo, Jamar Nicholas, Marc Gaffen, and Carolyn Belefski. This is your in-person opportunity to ask us anything about the creative process and what it is like to be a comic creator.

Awesome Con Short Film Festival presented by Joe Carabeo with Astray Productions will have three days of programming as well as an award show and filmmaker meet-up on Saturday at 4:30PM in Room 202. Check out the wrestling belts the winners receive! Hope to see you at Awesome Con.

Total Solar Eclipse Enamel Pin - Make 100 Kickstarter

Every January, Kickstarter celebrates the new year with Make 100, an annual call for projects that offer exactly 100 rewards. They encourage their creator community to think big and create small, and have fun with these first projects of the new year.  Each campaign offers specialized, limited-edition rewards for backers. You can help us welcome the new year by supporting a Make 100 campaign, or you can launch your own campaign between now and January 31. 

I started doing the #Make100 incentive in 2018 when I drew 100 Sad Fish. In 2020 I designed the Blue Rose enamel pin, 2021 was Banana Bandana, 2022 was "Thank you Mom" Mother's Day enamel pin, and last year was the Red Rose enamel pin. Part of the inspiration with some of the projects was from PANTONE Color of the Year selections and I still plan to design a project based on this year's color (Peach Fuzz). However with 2024 already zipping by right before our eyes, I realize a more pressing event is coming our way. 

We're raising funds to produce 100 limited edition soft enamel pins with a friendly celestial original illustrated design to celebrate the upcoming Total Solar Eclipse visiting North America on April 8, 2024. The pins will be 30mm diameter with production effects that include antique silver plating with etching on the moon craters. Each pin will be fixed with a magnet and comes with a backing card. The design portrays a happy moon with rosy cheeks, crescent eyes, and the Sun's corona showcased with white glow-in-the-dark enamel. 

You can read more about the project and pledge here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/carolynbelefski/total-solar-eclipse-enamel-pin-make-100

At this point, I've managed and delivered nine successful Kickstarter projects, so I am very dependable and have grown a nice following for the enamel pins. It would be great to have your support if you think you would wear or display this pin or give it as a gift. Thank you!