my life in violet

It's never too late

2012-01-29T21:58:00.000-08:00

to start using capitals. And break for paragraphs. *AHEM*.

This is my tester roll of my Canon EOS Rebel G 35mm. I was happy most of them came out. Of course I did sort through them and delete the ones I didn't like..I have a lot to try with this camera. Next up-some Portra 160, and some Ektar 100. For this roll, I used just a Fuji Extra 400. Actually, I just put in a Fuji Extra 200, so we'll see how that goes. I used the automatic setting. I wanted to try manual, but the pictures are too dark, and I don't know how to adjust it to make them lighter (yet). Plus, my composition is not at it's highest peak here, mostly because I was just testing it and not really thinking about it like I normally would. They are light and not too contrasty. Which may or may not be a good thing, depending. Except the baby onesies..odd, that they turned out dark. I prefer not to use flash. It makes everything look awful. Natural light is always the best choice. But with this set on automatic, it did it anyway. So I have yet to figure that one out, too.

{in (mostly) defense of boomers..}

2012-01-26T13:57:00.000-08:00

re-printed from Lorimarsha. so tell us, how exactly did we screw the enviornment up? i do have to say, we DID throw our trash out of our car windows. something that makes me cringe when i think about it now. we littered like nobody's business. actually, i never threw anything big out the window or on the beach, like pop cups or burger bags or beer cans. i threw little bits of paper crunched up mostly. still, i wish i could take it all back. but we did a lot of things right...

"Checking out at the grocery store recently, the young cashier suggested I should bring my own grocery bags because plastic bags weren't good for the environment. I apologized and explained, "We didn't have this green thing back in my earlier days." The clerk responded, "That's our problem today. Your generation did not care enough to save our environment for future generations."

She was right about one thing -- our generation didn't have the green thing in “Our” day. So what did we have back then…? After some reflection and soul-searching on "Our" day here's what I remembered we did have.... Back then, we returned milk bottles, soda bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles repeatedly. So they really were recycled. But we didn't have the green thing back in our day. We walked up stairs, because we didn't have an escalator in every store and office building. We walked to the grocery store and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go two blocks.

We didn't have the green thing in our day. Back then, we washed the baby's diapers because we didn't have the throw-away kind. We dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 220 volts -- wind and solar power really did dry our clothes back in our early days. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing.

Back then, we had one TV, or radio, in the house -- not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief (remember them?), not a screen the size of the state of Montana. In the kitchen, we blended and stirred by hand because we didn't have electric machines to do everything for us. When we packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, we used wadded up old newspapers to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap. Back then, we didn't fire up an engine and burn gasoline just to cut the lawn. We used a push mower that ran on human power. We exercised by working so we didn't need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity. But she's right. We didn't have the green thing back then. We drank from a fountain when we were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time we had a drink of water. We refilled writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and we replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull.

People took the bus, and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their moms into a 24-hour taxi service. We had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And we didn't need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza joint etc."

//How I HEART Wes Anderson//

2012-01-23T22:12:00.000-08:00

oh yes, i've seen every wes anderson movie. many times. there is no one like him. he m akes me want to stay in his world. just stay there after the movie is over and the lights come up. just walk out of the theatre and still be there. i try and try, but i just end up having to see the film again to enter back in.
Don't ask me to pick a favorite. That's like asking me, which one of your kids do you like best? I have to say i was so enamoured by Bill Murray in The Life Aquatic(but then again, i have been permanently enamoured by Bill Murray since SNL), completely charmed by Bottle Rocket, and related so much to the weirdness of The Royal Tennenbaums. Maybe The Life Aquatic. or.....well, you get the picture.

Wes has a new one due out in May of this year called, Moonrise Kingdom. And I have no doubt it will not disappoint. Set on an island off the coast of New England in the summer of 1965, MOONRISE KINGDOM tells the story of two twelve-year-olds who fall in love, make a secret pact, and run away together into the wilderness. As various authorities try to hunt them down, a violent storm is brewing off-shore -- and the peaceful island community is turned upside down in more ways than anyone can handle. We have as always, Jason Swartzman and Bill Murray, with Bruce Willis, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton, Edward Norton, and a couple of wonderful kids Sam and Suzy played by Jared Gilman and Kara Heywood. I adore these people. And with sixties clothing and makeup....expect a review after viewing. Hurry, May!! xx

P.S. I've been super hella sick, that's why I've been absent. I'm on the mend now xx

2012-01-23T21:57:00.000-08:00

{green light means go}

2012-01-06T22:45:00.000-08:00

i had the breakthrough in therapy yesterday that i've been moving towards for 26 years. whenever i used to try to open up, i never felt right about it, and i know now that it was because i wasn't coming close to the real deal. i have asked myself so many times-why is it taking me so long to figure it out? but i had to go through what i went through to get to the place where it was exactly the right time. i had to be married 12 years to my husband. i had to move here for awhile. it is all around trust, and why i don't have it for others or for myself. it explains my constantly questionning myself. it's why i think i'm such a fuck up. i'ts why i lived my life in panic and fear. it was the motherlode. i don't feel the same at all. i feel a peace i have never felt, ever. a calm, and a new little voice in my head that now says "it's alright". everything is changed. and everything i do from here on out will be changed, and for the (much, much) better. i forgive those who have not been what i needed them to be, and so grateful for those who have. and no matter what happens to me, i know i will be okay.. even if the bottom falls out, i will make it. i am now in the process of flushing out the intelligent adult part of me. and beginning to find the separation between me and the massively traumatised child. the standpoint where i've seen almost everything from. how i developed a mental illness. oh, i see it all. i understand it all. last night i slept the sleep of someone who doesn't have to be sorry for everything anymore. isn't it great?

//maybe i'm amazed//

2012-01-05T11:24:00.000-08:00

5th January 2012 - The Six of Disks

The Lord of Success is a card full of the promise of bounty. When we have achieved a degree of inner confidence and self-belief, we release new streams of energy which create a powerful and rewarding reality around ourselves. New ideas are easy to implement. New projects are fruitful. We are energised and enthusiastic about the work we have in hand.
This level of productive harmony comes from a deep-rooted trust in the self. Once we simply allow our power to flow, we find ourselves capable of high levels of success and fulfilment. These things flow naturally as a reward for the hard work we have invested in ourselves.
When the card comes up in a reading to indicate everyday matters, it promises that projects currently in hand will be lucrative and abundant. We will do exactly what we had hoped we might - and probably receive even more than we had hoped for. Financial and material matters will be positive and prosperous, allowing us to gain a stable and comfortable position.

//journal drawrings//

2011-12-31T07:06:00.000-08:00

As i may or may not have mentioned, i am making a journal to be in a worldwide tour, and then to end up in the Brooklyn Museum of Art in a permanent collection. Mine are drawings. I tend to draw people on tv. or people i see at the library. i just put the tv on pause, and draw them. My journal is almost filled. Here are some of the drawings that are in it. you should know most of them. some look like them, some don't. that's the beauty of it. some have mistakes. a lot have mistakes. it's all chance. the names are written on them all (i think).

Washed Out - You And I

2011-12-28T23:38:00.000-08:00

//12 things happy people do differently//

2011-12-13T23:33:00.000-08:00

borrowed from my friend Lorimarsha's blog, originally posted by Jacob Sokol at Sensophy:

Cultivate optimism. – Winners have the ability to manufacture their own optimism. No matter what the situation, the successful diva is the chick who will always find a way to put an optimistic spin on it. She knows failure only as an opportunity to grow and learn a new lesson from life. People who think optimistically see the world as a place packed with endless opportunities, especially in trying times.
Avoid over-thinking and social comparison. – Comparing yourself to someone else can be poisonous. If we’re somehow ‘better’ than the person that we’re comparing ourselves to, it gives us an unhealthy sense of superiority. Our ego inflates – KABOOM – our inner Kanye West comes out! If we’re ‘worse’ than the person that we’re comparing ourselves to, we usually discredit the hard work that we’ve done and dismiss all the progress that we’ve made. What I’ve found is that the majority of the time this type of social comparison doesn’t stem from a healthy place. If you feel called to compare yourself to something, compare yourself to an older version of yourself.
Practice acts of kindness. – Performing an act of kindness releases serotonin in your brain. (Serotonin is a substance that has TREMENDOUS health benefits, including making us feel more blissful.) Selflessly helping someone is a super powerful way to feel good inside. What’s even cooler about this kindness kick is that not only will you feel better, but so will people watching the act of kindness. How extraordinary is that? Bystanders will be blessed with a release of serotonin just by watching what’s going on. A side note is that the job of most anti-depressants is to release more serotonin. Move over Pfizer, kindness is kicking ass and taking names.
Nurture social relationships. – The happiest people on the planet are the ones who have deep, meaningful relationships. Did you know studies show that people’s mortality rates are DOUBLED when they’re lonely? WHOA! There’s a warm fuzzy feeling that comes from having an active circle of good friends who you can share your experiences with. We feel connected and a part of something more meaningful than our lonesome existence.
Develop strategies for coping. – How you respond to the ‘craptastic’ moments is what shapes your character. Sometimes crap happens – it’s inevitable. Forrest Gump knows the deal. It can be hard to come up with creative solutions in the moment when manure is making its way up toward the fan. It helps to have healthy strategies for coping pre-rehearsed, on-call, and in your arsenal at your disposal.
Learn to forgive. – Harboring feelings of hatred is horrible for your well-being. You see, your mind doesn’t know the difference between past and present emotion. When you ‘hate’ someone, and you’re continuously thinking about it, those negative emotions are eating away at your immune system. You put yourself in a state of suckerism (technical term) and it stays with you throughout your day.
Increase flow experiences. – Flow is a state in which it feels like time stands still. It’s when you’re so focused on what you’re doing that you become one with the task. Action and awareness are merged. You’re not hungry, sleepy, or emotional. You’re just completely engaged in the activity that you’re doing. Nothing is distracting you or competing for your focus.
Savor life’s joys. – Deep happiness cannot exist without slowing down to enjoy the joy. It’s easy in a world of wild stimuli and omnipresent movement to forget to embrace life’s enjoyable experiences. When we neglect to appreciate, we rob the moment of its magic. It’s the simple things in life that can be the most rewarding if we remember to fully experience them.
Commit to your goals. – Being wholeheartedly dedicated to doing something comes fully-equipped with an ineffable force. Magical things start happening when we commit ourselves to doing whatever it takes to get somewhere. When you’re fully committed to doing something, you have no choice but to do that thing. Counter-intuitively, having no option – where you can’t change your mind – subconsciously makes humans happier because they know part of their purpose.
Practice spirituality. – When we practice spirituality or religion, we recognize that life is bigger than us. We surrender the silly idea that we are the mightiest thing ever. It enables us to connect to the source of all creation and embrace a connectedness with everything that exists. Some of the most accomplished people I know feel that they’re here doing work they’re “called to do.”
Take care of your body. – Taking care of your body is crucial to being the happiest person you can be. If you don’t have your physical energy in good shape, then your mental energy (your focus), your emotional energy (your feelings), and your spiritual energy (your purpose) will all be negatively affected. Did you know that studies conducted on people who were clinically depressed showed that consistent exercise raises happiness levels just as much as Zoloft? Not only that, but here’s the double whammy… Six months later, the people who participated in exercise were less likely to relapse because they had a higher sense of self-accomplishment and self-worth.
Take care of your body. – Taking care of your body is crucial to being the happiest person you can be. If you don’t have your physical energy in good shape, then your mental energy (your focus), your emotional energy (your feelings), and your spiritual energy (your purpose) will all be negatively affected. Did you know that studies conducted on people who were clinically depressed showed that consistent exercise raises happiness levels just as much as Zoloft? Not only that, but here’s the double whammy… Six months later, the people who participated in exercise were less likely to relapse because they had a higher sense of self-accomplishment and self-worth.

Not to say that you can just throw out your psych meds necessarily...some of us still need them to have quality of life at all. but this stuff really helps.

The Raveonettes - The Christmas Song

2011-12-07T13:01:00.000-08:00

The Waitresses - Christmas Wrapping

2011-12-07T12:42:00.000-08:00

{you're not getting older, you're getting better}

2011-12-05T13:06:00.000-08:00

i reposted this from Advanced Style (link on right with blogs i love)...these remarkably fabulous older ladies show us how it's done! it's "anti-fashion fashion" and it's wonderful!

"sookeh..."

2011-12-04T22:41:00.000-08:00

sigh. oh! so here is our new baby, sookie!

full name-sookie stackhouse of course, but i tried to get creative with jeremy like "sookie cathouse" or "sookie stackmeow" (i admit it, they suck) and he said "no sir, i don't like it"(old ren and stimpy reference..) so anyways, she is getting spayed this week, and then we can pick her up. she is four months old and very sweet. we bought her some new toys, and it was sad to get rid of ozma's little house. we just didn't want to confuse sookie with ozma kitty smells, although i think she is going to smell them anyway. it's been bittersweet. i think i want her to be just like ozzie. i want her to let me do all the things ozzie let me do, but i know she is her own self, and i will love whatever her likes and dislikes are.
so it's almost christmas. sookie is like a christmas present to ourselves. i am so sad at this time of year to not to be with my kids and grandsons again. some things are rough here around that. but i can't go into it. i just get really lonely. ozma really helped that though, and sookie will help too. i always had to be a mama. to real kids, to furry kids...i had to love and care for someone at all times. for all of you who are young and want to move away from your family...be sure it's what you really want. it can be hard on us parents. but my kids and i all grew up together, so we are very close.
i plan on taking christmas pics to post. i am not p.c. when it comes to christmas, i never say "happy holidays". if you are jewish or muslim or kwanza or anything else, just say your greeting to me. i think it will be lovely that way =)

//weekend update//

2011-11-29T05:54:00.000-08:00

aaaauuuuggghhhhh. that's how i feel right now. i'm not sleeping again, and it can be quite annoying and preposterous . in other news, my back is better. did i tell you my back was bad? really bad. i might not even need PT. so that's good.
we had to put sweet little ozzie down. it's been so hard for both of us. it's confusing and empty. she was down to 5 lbs, heart not working well, in a lot of pain.....so we made the hard decision. we look at pictures of her and talk about how we want to "itch the little tummy" and "who is mama's girl?" and all the things we used to say to her. i don;'t have my pal now. i talked to her all day long, sang to her, and "itched her tummy". we will be getting another kittey, in the near future. we buried her in the backyard next to jeremy's kitty "isabeaux". jeremy's mom did a neat ritual when we buried her. it was beautiful and made me feel a lot better about the cycle of life and death and then life again. we just know she is coming back as a kitteh again in a healthy body for another family to love.
in fashion news:still waiting on the last shipment of fabric, then i'll start sewing. as a matter of fact, i'm going to start with what i have. but i lost my model's measurements. i'm not doing so well here.
how was your thanksgiving? i had my daughter here for a week. we had a lot of fun and laughs. i ate tofurkey. i discovered i do not like tofurkey. i'm wavering on the vegan thing. right now i'm "mostly vegan". i admit it, yes, i've had an omelet or two. god, i missed eggs and cheese! and out here at Waffle House, it's scrumptious velveeta!! my favorite. sigh.
hey, i need a smallish model. i need one plus size(have her)and one in the like size M-L range. interested? email me at: mylifeinviolet@gmail.com
talk soon! xxxx

I Have An Excellent Idea Let's Change The Subject

2011-11-19T00:33:00.000-08:00

another new favorite artist. called, wolfe von lenkiewicz. i found the pieces from his newcoming collection in the great UK mag "AnOther" (highly recommended). i'm going to be cutting these out and framing them for my wall. i absolutely love the first and last one the best. so darkly compelling.

" Wolfe von Lenkiewicz is an artist who employs some of the most well-known imagery in the history of art to create startling new forms that appear strangely familiar to the viewer – “re-sequencing” iconic works into contemporary pieces with a technique that intentionally mirrors that of genetic manipulation. For his forthcoming exhibition I Have An Excellent Idea Let’s Change The Subject he has re-sequenced John Tenniel’s classic illustrations from Alice In Wonderland, creating a heroine who references everything from the mysteries of alchemy to the cubist abstraction of Picasso. "

Washed Out - Belong

2011-11-18T23:08:00.000-08:00

Washed Out - Feel It All Around

2011-11-18T23:05:00.000-08:00

Maïa Vidal: Follow Me

2011-11-17T22:22:00.000-08:00

//every day is like halloween//

2011-11-04T00:20:00.000-07:00

how was your halloween? and your dia de los muertos? we went to a fun halloween party celebrating Samhain. we made partials, which if you recall, are Eyes of God like we made in the seventies(well, some of us did), out of sticks and raffia. we made new friends, hugged ones we already knew, and got to sit in the computer programmers corner. I dressed up like Frida. Jeremy wore a robe with a hood and went as a son of a witch=) here i am, as the aging painter....

we didn't make it to the d.o.d. festivities-i've been feeling like crap. I've been eating some dairy, because i couldn't stand it, i craved eggs something awful. so maybe it can be attributed to that. i need about a hundred and twenty five things checked out, so, one at a time....
so what did you dress up as? show me!! xxx

walking in l.a.

2011-10-27T02:27:00.000-07:00

i'm back! i had a wonderful time. (in case you forgot, i was in l.a. for my 40th hs reunion). it was amazing to see everyone i have been talking to on facebook, my classmates that i didn't know in high school but wished i did. the cliques were all gone, it was just a bunch of 58 year olds being grateful to be there and to see everybody. the love was overflowing! my bff from junior high school rushed up to me and hugged and kissed me and wouldn't let me go! we both cried. it was emotional. such good people. so many soul connections. i still get teary when i see pics from it! i did much more than the reuinion, we went somewhere every day for nearly two weeks! i saw a buddhist temple, olvera st., yogananda's meditation garden where some of gandhi's ashes are buried, the ocean, ate at lots of yummy vegan restaurants, and of course TONS of SHOPPING,(japanese dollar store! fabulous fabric store! yogananda's gift shop!) along with other fun things. here are some pics from the trip:

top to bottom: 3.49 a lb, succulents, reunion x3, buddha burrito, koi, surfboards, j.m., leo carillo, olvera st., me and karen, la cita, buddhist temple x3.

{all i want is you}

2011-09-28T00:44:00.000-07:00

top to bottom: jeremy, aunt em's, sasha, sutherlin, oakland bedroom(i miss my Virgin), creepy marionettes, laundrette in portland, desmondo, hunt slonem's lories, pants i need, younger jeremy, liza with a Z, an alley in oakland, chachacha , birdtree.

//paris hilton says: "it's huge!"//

2011-09-24T17:24:00.000-07:00

this is the palate for the new shop. All colors are on-trend with Pantone's 2011through 2012 forecast, and all of them are organic and eco friendly. i decided to nix black. everybody does black. i don't even want to have it as an option. i'm happy with them. um, i guess you have surmised that i will be doing clothing. yea, with a new approach and niche i think i will enjoy it. i also am going to open a second shop for my photos. that's my plan! OH!! and there is a very cool gallery/shop here that is so Portlandy...it's called Naked Art and it is owned by a cool Belgian woman. i just realized that i could sell any other things i want to make there!(if she wanted to of course), but i think i fit right in. there is no memoryware there at all, mosaic stuff but not like the pique assiette i do. so! it's all huge.

//changing my mind: part two//

2011-09-21T00:29:00.000-07:00

i decided to make four lists. pros and cons for clothing, for pottery, for painting, and for photography:

clothing
pros-i sew well. fabric is light to carry and ship. i already have machines and a space. i do love creating garments(i've been doing it since i was 11). i'm excited about doing pure color this time. i think made to order will sell a lot better. i love the photo shoots. i can make a lot of different shaped people happy.

cons-i've been doing it a long time. my back hurts to sit for very long(i could get a better chair..). i need a coverlock machine(expensive). i'm afraid i won't be able to express myself enough. people could copy me(can't get around that one).

pottery
pros-i love looking for toys and trinkets and junk, it makes me so excited! i think i'm good at it. i know people would like what i do, it's more traditional than contemporary. i could branch this out into doing pique assiette on walkways of people's homes, on bathroom sink bottoms, and lots of other places. it is a tradition of my french culture.

cons-it's awfully heavy to ship and carry(depending on how big it is). i have NO pottery or anything to make them, so it would be buying from scratch. (my pottery and junk is in storage in oregon). it would mean i had to remove all my sewing stuff from my table and replace it entirely with this stuff. and it would be a pain to go back and forth from that(it can be a mess) to sewing. might make me not want to sew, just because of the hassle. someone in portland does the kind of pique assiette that i do, and she is very popular and established.

photos
pros-i have a jillion cameras! i LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE analog photography. my soul is enriched when i am shooting. i love doing styling too. love doing people. love experimenting. and i think i'm good at it. very light to carry and ship, inexpensive. doesn't cost much to make p rints.

cons-lots of competition. of people that are GOOD. maybe i'm the only one who really thinks i'm good(lol). takes time to go out and shoot, and it is very very tiring. (although my husband helps me completely=) scary to ask people if i can shoot them. haven't gotten entirely comfortable with that yet(even tho i am very much a people person).

painting
pros-have a unique style. another way to love color and use it. could charge lots more for these than clothing. haven't painted in a while, would love to do it again. you can always paint over it=)not hard to carry or ship.i used to do piggyback paintings. meaning, you paint on top of an existing photo. i used a vintage Elvis calender.

cons-would have to clear off the sewing bit again. unless i could somehow have painting and sewing going on simultaneously(eek). takes longer than making a garment.(that's why i would charge more). lots of painting people on etsy.

so there you have it. i think i have decided to do the clothing. but i want to do something else too. maybe open another shop on etsy for photography. i will have to wait until i get home to get back into pique assiette and memoryware, as i will have more room, and here i am very limited. i do yearn to do something completely different tho. just because i have done this so long. but photography is relatively new for me(5 years?)so still very exciting, still learning. the changes i have in mind for my new clothing shop will be vastly different than the old one, so that could be like a new thing too. still sketching and making loads of lists....oh dear! no photos. okay, what can i post? i know! here are some of my husbands paintings. he is a true outsider..the last two are my piggybacks. the first one i sold. for WAY too little. i wish i'd have kept it. i still have loads of elvis pics left.

{another woman changing her mind}

2011-09-19T23:55:00.000-07:00

i HOPE you know that i wasn't serious with that chauvinistic phrase....but yea, i am changing my mind around. or..i'm just thinking about other options right now. maybe i don't want to make clothes anymore. maybe i just want to make one thing only. maybe i want to do something i used to do and i miss doing. maybe i need to get back to art. ART art. so, i've been thinking about when i used to do pique assiette, and memory ware. as a Frenchwoman, my nana, Juliette, had pieces of each of these. i know the history, i know what it is and how to do it. it was really fun, because i was carrying on a tradition, and because i could play more.
i'm sure you've all seen examples of pique assiette. translated, it means "stolen from plates". it's covering the watts towers. people have covered houses with it. it means using broken pieces of plates and other ceramic dishware, mixed with other fun items like toys or statuettes or flowers, then using putty to seal around the shards. it is meant to be quirkey and uneven, not perfectly cut into little squares. i used to cover picture frames with this.
memoryware, was often jugs, covered with memorabilia and things a person used a lot, like thimbles, keys, beads, marbles, etc. then puttied around them in a sculptural manner, and painted bronze. i think i liked this the best of the two. i used toys, jewelry, figures, flowers, and all sorts of stuff. i used to get my toys at the goodwill, when they had a huge wooden box, and at the very bottom were all sorts of smallish ones for cheap. it was there and then that i found an old beetlejuice toy figure, and squealed with delight when i got it home, and my son and i inadvertently pulled off his head as we were spinning it around, to find another little tiny head underneath!! anyway, i got tons of stuff there. the wooden frames, too. i did find a pic of one of my frames, with a picture of elvis in it. i think i still have it in storage. but, i'm thinking, maybe i'd like to do this again. but do more than frames. do jugs, pitchers, jars, etc. and do all sizes of frames. i found a couple pics of pique assiette and memoryware too, that are a lot like how i do it. you have to smash the pottery with a hammer, not cut it with a cutting tool. unless you can cut it in wonky shapes..can you? i loved using toys in both. it was a part of me. this would mean, that i would have to go shopping. online for toy lots and little pieces of junk, and at thrifts and flea markets. i would spend way less money than i would buying tons and tons of fabric...i don't know. i'm thinking about it...what are your thoughts?

it just all reminds me of my nana and my heritage. it is close to my heart. what would nana say? to do what you love, that's what she'd say. my nana who was a ruth gordon clone. she'd say she'd be proud of me no matter what i do. thanks nana.
then again, i might want to sell my photos. or paintings. or maybe i should have another shop on etsy for just a second thing. it has to all solidify, it just HAS to! i'm counting on it. what do i love, and what am i good at?

new feature//

2011-09-12T05:16:00.000-07:00

This is my first installment of a new feature here on the blog, interviews with designers! mostly, if not all, on etsy. Since i am a designer, i thought that other designers would be just as thrilled as i would to get some helpful and topical information about designing plus having a business on Etsy. You know, designers telling designers about designing and stuff. It's why we watch Project Runway.

First up, is Alix from treehouse28 . Alix is made-to-order(large sizes too!), clean and simple pieces with a neat serged edge. I have owned a shirt from her shop and i wore it all the time! (i lost too much weight and no longer could wear it-sob). The craftmanship is superb, the sizing is right on, super comfortable, and great, versatile designs. Here is her interview:

deb: hi alix! thanks so much for letting me ask you questions about your business.
first let me ask, how did you come up with that name? finding names for a business on etsy seems to get harder and harder, with people opening more and more shops...

alix: I lived in a tiny apartment on Avenue B, lower east side of Manhattan. It was so small... you could literally stand in the center, lean and pivot, and could touch all of the walls. The one redeeming quality of this place was that it looked out onto a large oak tree courtyard. Called it my treehouse. It was here that I got my first computer, and my log in password was treehouse28.
Fast forward 15 years... when opening up my Etsy shop, I typed in treehouse28 for username. Not realizing this was to be the shop name.. and the rest is history!

deb: How did you decide on your niche i.e., solid colors, in jersey, made to order....?

alix: the niche sort of fell into my lap:)) really, i think simplifying everything helps. i need to stay in what i am in so i can produce what i do all on my own. people do also tend to gravitate towards the simple things... i have noticed. over designing seems to be what sinks clothing lines that are small and can't handle the volume.

deb: good point. i just discovered this after having too many different things in my shop without much cohesion.
how long did it take for your shop to really start turning a profit?

alix: When i first opened a handful of years ago, I thought making enough to pay for groceries every month would be my goal. I think it was in the first two weeks I realized I could set my goals higher. Within a few months I was Etsy's featured artist. I went from a few orders a day to several pages of orders a day. While I have not had a busier time since, It was then I started turning a profit and have yet to stop!

deb: that is amazing!! do you set hours for yourself to work each day, or take certain days off?

alix: After year two of working around the clock, literally... I had to set some boundaries. My children are in school until three every day. I work Monday through Friday from eight to three. It took some time to learn how to manage properly so I stay focused on work, as I work from home. I take weekends off. I never ever work on the weekend. Never. I will work a few nights during the week if needed to ensure I get weekend time in with the family.

deb: i think this is essential too. how long does it take you to make one garment on average?

alix: There really is no average... it all depends on the specifications of the customer. Sometimes certain measurement requests, fit requests... take a bit more finessing. I cut, sew and then try on a fit mannequin to ensure the proper fit. It would be easier to estimate this if I were cutting from patterns, the same cut every time...

deb:

i think getting measurements or having several sizes available is the way to go. i didn't, and got so many emails asking"do you happen to have this is such-and-such size?" it's the way i'm going next.
one other thing i love about your shop is your photos. do you have a photographer do them? i like how some of them, the ones with you in them, blur a little. can you tell what's important to remember about photos on etsy, especially for designers?

alix: I am the photographer:) Imagery is HUGE for me. It is almost my favorite part of my job. I started off shooting on self timer, reluctantly using myself as the model. Recently I have hired models, and got lucky with direction. I was scared I would not take on this role very well... conveying what I wanted to see... but I was really happy with how it went. Like my clothing, I like to keep it clean and simple. I use a white drop, no cluttered back rounds. It, to me, is the best way to showcase your work clearly. I love to play with the negative space, creating shapes and movement of the models and clothing that are unique and creative. The images become more about the clothes, than about the models in them.. which I think helps customers visualize themselves in them.

deb: your photography is wonderful! i have been using a white sheet, which isn't big enough. i need to invest in a drop! i have used models(actually friends) but i am so shy at directing, so i know what you mean. i don't particularly like using a dressform, because there is no movement. i liked it when you were in the shots, you have such a great look! we have a very similar aesthetic.
so lastly, is there any other words of wisdom you would like to impart to other designers out there, on etsy?

alix: I am a humble type.. so imparting words of wisdom does not come easily:) But, if there were any... I would say to keep true to what you believe in. Design and sell what you, yourself would wear and love. Believing in your work is the driving force to success:)

deb: thank you so much, alix-for being so kind and gracious! it was my pleasure to talk to you. i wish you continued success in all aspects of your life!

alix: thanks to you too!!! can i get your blog url? love to check it out. thanks again!

{a little information}

2011-09-04T17:21:00.000-07:00

hey! i get to go to my high school reunion!! my bff in junior high sent me the planefare. how cool is that??? i can hardly believe it. i just know i'm going to cry. i get overwhelmed easily. i'll also get to spend time with my bff from high school and my stepmom who i haven't seen since my dad passed(3 or 4 years ago). plus, since i grew up in los angeles, it's always nice to visit. i love the palm trees, and the weather, and the atmosphere. i do love california, even tho i call my home portland. pictures will be posted when i get back! i leave the 4th of oct, get back the 13th.
i am also starting a new feature on my blog, interviews with fellow designers, mostly on Etsy. My goal is to get good information from each about running a clothing shop, designing, what makes them successful, their own pov. SOO excited to start with one of my fave designers on etsy, alix of treehouse28! i will be posting that probably tomorrow.
and yes, i changed the name of my blog. but you can still get here by fiveorsixgirls.blogspot.com. i did some intensive investigating, and it appears that i would lose all my followers, my search capability on google....and that just sounded like a big problem, so i just changed the name, and kept the url. so it's like fiveorsixgirls presents-my life in violet=) it works for me xx
here are some shots i took with my diana f+ w/35mm back with kodak tri-x 400
xoxoxo

it just doesn't get any better than this//

2011-09-02T08:45:00.000-07:00

formerly featured, one of my style icons (and friend!) debra rapoport.
(picture from Advanced Style blog).

blowout

2011-08-24T20:07:00.000-07:00

hey! i'm having a huge blowout sale on my shop-everything is 40-50%off! so if there was something you were liking before, now's your chance to get it on major discount. everything is handmade, made well, and one of a kind. i want to get rid of everything! fiveorsixgirls.etsy.com
xx

{what are your collections?}

2011-08-22T17:14:00.000-07:00

teapots
tiaras
striped shirts
virgin mary's
religious mexican candles
vintage skirts
bird and animal ceramic figures
vintage scrolly picture frames
amateur paintings, mostly of flowers
paintings of birds
vintage scarves
decorator pillows
paint by numbers
tattoos
piggyback paintings

what are yours? xx

//I have a new boyfriend at PF Chang's//

2011-08-22T12:38:00.000-07:00

I'll take a pic of him next time we go. He has some serious dimples, dude. Every time he flashed them I'd go sliding under the table. Jeremy(my husband) said, "You should ask him out". I was all "what? is he serious? does he want to go poly?" PF Chang is my new favorite restaurant, because they have some vegan stuff. And they make a big point to ask you about food allergies and whatnot. Everything is FRESH like crazy. I had vegetables and tofu with a curry coconut sauce. It was SO delicious! We split stuff now because I can't eat like i used to. Still fat, but I got overly stuffed on half a plate. We also had these yummy spring rolls. I usually hate chinese food, because of the gloppy brown sauce they put on everything. It's the spam of Asian food. But this place is all fresh and no gloppy brown sauce on anything. hooray!

So we celebrated our anniversary this weekend. We stayed at the Wynfrey Hotel. We also went out to breakfast, at Waffle House, a southern staple. There is one on every corner, just like Starbucks in the Northwest. I wore my Smiths "Meat is murder" shirt(it's a smiths' album, come on), which i'm sure they all really appreciated. It's been a big weekend. We thrifted, yard saled, shopped, i made a book out of a vintage record sleeve(way cool!) and i am brainstorming my new business. I'm taking a full month to sort it out. I for sure want to do one thing mainly, not a lot of things. I want it to be more streamlined. I want to take measurements and do custom orders instead of just making different sizes and posting them up. I want to only use solids. I want to use organic hemp jersey. I want everything easy and comfortable. I think i want to hand dye them all. I want to use earth-friendly dyes. There are many variables I am thinking of...I'm just jotting them all down (in my album cover book!) and letting them slowly solidify. It has to be utilitarian. I want the pics all modeled by actual ladies. I want to take a lot of time to do everything just right.

Tell me the things that you like in basics. What basic garments do you like to have in your closet?

top to bottom: lamp w/birds at the Wynfrey, album cover book front, back, vintage virgin(i collect them, painting it yellow), GORGEOUS huge (x2!) embossed drapes, striped knit mock t, botanical drawing, tray to make a shrine.

//you make me want to shout//

2011-08-20T00:17:00.000-07:00

yay! i'm totally good. i had a long talk with my husband and business consultant(heh) and i'm going to be shutting down my shop. i'll keep the sale on for awhile, and maybe even make it lower. for right now i'm in research mode. i'm going to open a NEW shop. new name, new concept, new niche, new everything. yes, and that means this blog name will be changed too. but i'll alert you about that, so you don't lose me. you don't want to lose me, do you?? i thought not. I have great ideas. i have peace of mind. i have heavily vibed-out energy. i had so m any questions, and it was amazing how i figured out so much in so little time. i had a pretty fantastic tarot reading too, and it was completely right on. if i may, i will share my friend Jagadeesh's website, where he does free readings. he is GOOD. and he's my friend. fear not the tarot, it is not from the devil. it is in alignment with the earth and the stars. anyway! some fashion related business. xx

Runway hair 2011....

"I'll tell you what kind of sign, it's a going out of business sign!"

2011-08-17T22:02:00.000-07:00

It's been coming for a while. just not being happy, things not feeling right. i kept thinking it was probably my bpd, that it was chemical, and i'm just doubting myself again. it got more stressful and deeper, and yesterday i hit a wall. i realized i didn't want to sell clothes anymore. it had a real good run. i did it for a looong time, put a lot of money into it, worked hard, and loved it. but it didn't do for me what i needed it to do, and something inside was trying to tell me it was time to move on. it's been real emotional. like i am losing someone or a great friendship. i still want to sew, but not on this level anymore. i have been told by those in the know, that it happens to big designers too. they just can't make the bucks, and have to turn to a new page. i wanted to have "it", i thought i had "it", but in reality, i think it was hit and miss. sometimes i had it, but not all the time. i started getting tired, and bored. i wasn't waking up anymore going "oh boy! what am i going to sew today???!!!" I wanted to sell a bunch of my collection so i could go to my high school reunion(40th!) in october. i have never been to one. my son said, "why don't you sell your serger and use the money?" i said no, i don't want to get rid of my machines. i still want to sew, for myself and my friends and family. and i can still do custom work. i have great ideas, but they don't always come thru in the finished product. maybe i just never discovered who i was, and that was why it wasn't working. maybe i need more skill(i do). maybe later on, i'll follow through in these things and open up a new store.
so now, i'm going to concentrate on photography. i have had several shows of my photos and my art. i have sold both. i want to get back to showing, and selling prints. i already am serious about it...but not in a "i have to do this" way. i think i want to paint too again, but i don't know where that is going to fit back in. i am following my inner voice. this feels right. i appreciate all your comments and feedback, keep it coming, because it really helps. xxx
oh! and everything in the store is 40-50% off . come get a good deal xoxoxo

i've been wearing {mascara} lately

2011-08-14T18:06:00.000-07:00

and it makes me feel like i'm too "dolled up". maybe it was the thick brown eyebrows i drew on there to go with it. i feel weird about wearing makeup anymore, and i LOVE makeup. i put a little bit on, and i think suddenly i look like a hooker. no pictures, because my hair is too short right now.
Had a fun day going to yard sales and hanging out on south side. south side is the most comfortable i can get here, because there you will see hippies, colored hair, tatts, street people, and the guy who likes to tell me big whoppers(not pictured). here i am with my peeps. shoot, my hair is in the picture. that's my new boyfriend roosevelt, with his arm around me. look how happy he is to get his picture taken with a gorgeous red-headed babe. i took a picture of all of them (b/w), and then roosevelt insisted on taking one of me too with my digital.

they are great guys. plus three feet, he took the picture, but you'll remember i posted one of him before.(you DO remember, don't you?!) we like to go every few weeks and hang out at the starbucks, and see who's around. i'm doing a series on guys with long hair, so i took the first one today. it's also black and white. he was a real nice guy and said i could have him "any way i wanted" (heh). i'll show you those when i get them processed. also, i am entering a competition for b/w photos, and hope to have stuff on this roll to include as well. it's through the lomography site, which is listed on my blog roll to the right. i'm compiling pics as i take them, so i can show them when i get back to portland, hopefully. i haven't shown in awhile. i need to get myself out there again. mostly, people are really nice when i ask to take their photo. i think only one guy once said no. he interrogated me, like "who are you?" "why do you want my picture"? "where's it going to go?" and then "no, i don't think so". i really want to take people right now. i wanted to take a photo of some people outside the mission, but jeremy freaked out about that. he thought that maybe they would think i was being condescending, but that isn't my motivation at all. i just like a bit of life, and i particularly like it when it's in more economically challenged sections of town, because i see a lot of beauty and poignancy there.

here's the mellow mushroom, also in southside. it's a pizza place. it's got really good pizza, but you have to wait like forEVer.

OH! i'm posting my collection!! it's at fiveorsixgirls.etsy.com . here are some pics if you want a preview:

for the whole collection, check out the link above. more things still to post, including the wedding dress-with a real live model! xx

The Breeders - Safari

2011-08-09T03:03:00.000-07:00

//10 things i love right now//

2011-07-30T17:47:00.000-07:00

yo gabba gabba

vintage 60's patterns

anna sui (except for the fur)(unless it's fake fur)(which i don't think it is)

audrey hepburn

the bardot poof

copper hair

polka dots

paint by number

hand made corsages

jewelry made out of office supplies

class of 1971

2011-07-21T04:13:00.000-07:00

that's me on the left, on our senior quad at Reseda High School, in Reseda, Ca, where i grew up. that was part of my "family", my best friends, the group we called "the idiots". that girl in the middle, Karen, is still my best friend, after 44 years. and one other guy, not in the picture; we're still in contact too. the rest-i have lost contact with.

two days ago, i found the group on facebook "Reseda High School, class of 1971". I fou nd my best friend from junior high. i found another one of the "idiots". i found all kinds of people who i remembered, and who i didn't think knew i existed. they said "i remember you, deb!" people who i never even really spoke to, because they were popular and i wasn't, say "i remember you!" in the friendliest way. there is no separation anymore. the jocks, popular kids, misfits(me), and everybody else are all nice, friendly, genuine, 58 year olds.i continue to have conversation after conversation with people i barely knew, but i knew who they were.. i am telling them things i wished i could have said then, like "the way you drew really inspired me", or "you made me feel better about being chubby" . people that seemed so far away from me, yet i saw them every day. one guy told me "i'm sorry that i didn't want to hold your hand for the may pole in grammar school". and "i hope that's not what drove you to younger men!"(my husband jeremy is 17 years younger than i). and i think i may have found the girl in the photo, at the far right. we have been trying to find her for decades. i hope it's her, i think it's her.
cross your fingers for me!

tiger lily

2011-07-18T13:34:00.000-07:00

that's the name of my summer collection! it will launch in a couple of weeks. i think it is about 14 pieces. i have been on such a sixties roll that i probably will still be making sixites-inspired pieces after the fact. here is the wedding dress....

it's a mini! i had my model sarah try it on and it looked great. right now, i'm working on a dress made from a green satin cami where i paint-dyed the lace orange, and am adding layers and layers of fabrics below. i got sidetracked today and watched true blood from last night. what did you think??? SPOILER:i loved when eric grabbed sookies butt! i like him so much more now. do you ever think bill and sookie will get back together? what does it say in the books? i didn't read them. although i'd really like to see sook and eric hook up....

the wooing o'it

2011-06-27T20:45:00.000-07:00

Getting back to normal, and much better than normal, really! The universe has really come though for me and us all of a sudden in many ways. Jeremy got a job! Exactly what he wanted, the pay he wanted, and free parking! I'm opening up immensely due to a book i read called "Essential Spirituality". It just kicked off a series of events that are taking me down the path i have been so thirsty to go. Now it's like an abundant fountain and i am SO grateful! As Steve Martin said in the Jerk "I found my special purpose!" only it's really a series of finding them in ones life, isn't it? I found my special purpose(s) for this point in time and it feels soooo good. I am especially grateful for the wonderful people in my life that i have met here-who knew I would make such good friends? Back to the swing of things. Some drawings and some bw photos i just did with my diana f+. If you click on the drawings, you can read what's written. I think I'm going to use this film again.Here's what i have to remember about diana: when you get the shot you want in the viewfinder, take one or two steps back, and lower the camera just a bit. I can't believe i finally found a cemetary with lovely statuary! It's downtown somewhere, and i don't remember the name of it.Do you remember in the movie "angel at my table" they sang that song? The sisters? "Ha ha, the wooing o'it".I'm thinking of that now.xx

Deb is mostly really happy

2011-06-20T22:05:00.000-07:00

Got the pathology back from my surgery-normal! I have been doing SO WELL lately. New meds are agreeing with me, working hard on my collection, feeling better after surgery(mostly), eating yummy vegan food, and Ozma hasn't bit me in a few weeks. Here are a couple of sneak peeks on the collection, and some other stuff:

Iguana Grill-it's so pretty in there, and the food is delicious!

Isn't the color delicious on this camera?!

I just love this picture of Jeremy=)

At the duck pond.

One of the dresses in my collection. You can wear it with or without without a cami. Depending on how brave you are=)

After tea dying vintage fabrics and crocheted bits for my sixties wedding dress! They came out so nice, each varying in shade just a little. They are not as yellow as in these pictures. More of a soft beige.

you are beautiful

2011-06-12T23:50:00.000-07:00

I've been off having surgery. Don't worry, it wasn't too intense, I'm healing up nicely, and I'm just needing to do a lot of resting. In the meanwhile, here are some random photos I've been taking around town and in the yard and house pre-surgery...

walmart, thrifts, my skirt in the making, from "who shot rock and roll",
southside, spray painted on fwy, me, thrifts, jeremy's legs, downtown antique store,"three feet", ozzie, fried tofu, thrifts, and the garden.

Zelda Kaplan in New York City

2011-05-24T22:06:00.000-07:00

<p>&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;i am&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;</p> so inspired.

Some details

2011-05-20T23:32:00.000-07:00

Things have been so crazy...I am going through big changes in multitudes of ways...
First, I went vegan. Just this last week. It's big, because I am a huge carnivore. I LOVE a huge burger. I would kill for one. I am still craving them somewhat, but it is subsiding a little. I LOVE cheese. I eat it on everything plus eat handfulls of it out of the bag whenever possible. Mind you I have been trying to lose weight...anyway, I had the option of going gradually but hey, what's the point? If you're going to do it, just do it, right? I also am quitting processed sugar and most other sugar. I also am quitting diet soda. I LOVE diet coke, I have been addicted to it for centuries. And I'm going through major withdrawls now that I am hoping will leave me feeling super good afterwards. I'm doing it for my health. I'm doing it for ethical reasons. I'm doing it for the planet. I'm doing it to lose weight too. I just want to feel good again. I have been in so much pain for so long..with ME. So exausted .
Second,(or third or fourth) I am starting a new therapist. I like her. She is right up my alley. Alternative and holistic but professional. She even does Reiki! We started right in with my horrible self image.
Next, I am getting re-evaluated by a psychiatrist. When I was evaluated before, they finally diagnosed me correctly, with Borderline Personality Disorder. They just have never been able to find the correct med or meds to help me long term. It has been an ungodly struggle. But I have hope.
Lastly, I am on a spiritual quest. I just got the book "Essential Spirituality" which seems to be a good fit for the things I am looking for. I don't want to try to fit into just one philosophy. I want to find the good in each of the major religions of the world, and start meditating and doing other practices.
I also decided that I don't want to dye my hair anymore. The time has come to welcome grey with grace.
I kind of feel all disconbobulated right now, with all this going on at once. Although I don't feel so fuzzy in the brain and confused as I usually do. I just feel really different.
I'm so excited for all the food choices there are! I am having a super blast reading vegan cookbooks and going "MMMMMMMMM!" at everything. My husband is actually doing this with me. He also told me he wanted to read Essential Spirituality when I'm done, so he will be on the same page with me. How wonderful can he be? xxxxx
I am so enraptured by nature right now-with photography I see a whole new world through the camera. I appreciate the colors and the deterioration, the people in such different circumstances. It's like when I have my camera, I go into a fantasty world that only I can see. It is so much what my soul wants to do.
I am almost finished with my fifth collection piece. I am loving it so hard!! I am incorporating sixties style with a bit of modern edge and modern fabrics. I had some excellent vintage poly in the best print ever for bellbottoms(actually sort of between a bellbottom and a flare), but mr. fiveorsix said, do you really want to make anyone suffer with that old kind of poly on their skin? Some of it is better than others, and this one was heavy and would probably cause a lot of unpleasantness. I did however find something very cool instead! I am so excited about it.
p.s. I decided that bleaching my hair out three times to get it white and tone it grey was sooooo damaging, that I'm just staying red. Hey, Vivienne is still dying hers....xx

MixMatch

2011-05-19T13:01:00.000-07:00

I was doing mixed prints long before the trend started...I am all about prints as you know, and have always loved to be crazy with them! Here are some awesome examples(I overuse the word "awesome"..)

holga

2011-05-17T13:48:00.000-07:00

On the street

2011-05-09T17:00:00.000-07:00

Here is what I've been seeing as street fashion lately that I thought was fresh(a big YAY for flares coming back in!!! They are so flattering- I NEVER liked skinny jeans...)

Dries Van Noten

2011-04-25T23:32:00.000-07:00

reposted from color collective

sprockets

2011-04-23T02:53:00.000-07:00

these are a few shots i got from using my diana f+ with the 35mm back. plus, sprockets! i didn't know they were going to be there. they are kind of neat, but they aren't my favorite. i think i prefer the pics without them...

don't you think they're kind of distracting? what are your thoughts? i have a long way to go. i had a style with my polaroids, i was in tune. with these, i have oh, so much more experimenting to do...and so much more to learn. next roll is the holga with kodak portra 400vc. next camera: pentax spotmatic xxxxx

Spring

2011-04-20T03:49:00.000-07:00

New shop

2011-04-19T23:16:00.000-07:00

heya! i'm opening a new shop on Etsy called mondo vintage! It will be vintage clothing including plus size!. we also will be selling other vintage items like a pastel painting i just found. I'm in the process of making the shop, will let you know when it's open. Meanwhile, here is the banner! peace and love xoxoxoxo

Diana

2011-04-09T22:38:00.000-07:00

i just sent in my second roll of film used in my diana f+. The first was with the original back, and second with the 35mm back I got for my birthday. Here are a few from the original back:

Not very many came out. I was leaving the lens cap on-ha. sigh. okay, I'm over that because it won't stay on anymore anyway. The next roll i am waiting for, with the 35mm back, has many more pics than this roll, so I am hoping it has some good ones on it. I am waiting to see which format I like better-so I can see which I want to shoot next. xoxoxo

INXS - The One Thing (both videos)

2011-03-30T16:44:00.000-07:00

Collection!!

2011-03-29T22:55:00.000-07:00

That's right-I am making my first collection! It will be my Summer 2011 Collection. Largely influenced by the book "Hippie" by Barry Miles..

and other sources. Some keywords as a preview: Polkadots, stripes, modness, mixed prints, embellished colored camisoles, patterned leggings, big ruffles, groovy wide legged pants, lots of color, mini's, maxi's.....fun, fun things to mix into your current wardrobe. And, as I mentioned before, it will be a mix of plus and smaller sizes. I still plan on keeping plus size as my focus, but i want to add in some smaller stuff and see how it goes. I'm so excited! There will be 15-20 pieces, and it will launch sometime around June/July. They will all be posted together on my shop on Etsy. Of course, I am going to have to have a party, and you are cordially invited!
In other news....I started drinking Yerba Mate, and I think it is going to replace my coffee-drinking. I know, shock, right? But it is so mellow, and it makes you feel so....like "I love everyone and everything in the world", and doesn't crash you like coffee does. and I have a real THING about coffee too...so we'll see. What would be REALLY cool, is if i could stop taking my anti-depressant and just drink this instead. I drink it every day. It is really mild, tastes like green tea, and I don't even put any sweetener in it. It lowers cholesterol, fights cancer, fights obesity, and is an anti-oxidant. It gives you a "calm energy". It DOES have caffiene in it, but less than coffee, and without the side effects. I'm so glad my son Noah told me about it! He drinks it every day too. It may cost more than buying coffee however in the long run, but if it kept me from being depressed and rapid cycling, it would be worth it's weight in gold=)

Johnny Cash - Ring of Fire

2011-03-22T00:08:00.000-07:00

How to make a cool cool headboard

2011-03-19T19:59:00.000-07:00

Yay! A tutorial! It is from myhomeideas.com. I am going to make this when we move back to Portland. It is made from cardboard, batting, and burlap coffee bean bags. How cool do they look? This is exactly my style. I love the last picture, and the pillows against it. Perfect! Here is the tutorial:

What You Need:

Materials:- Residential insulation sheathing, ½ thickness
- Rolled, medium-weight batting
- Grain sacks, coffee bags, or fabric of choice
- Industrial-strength staple gun
- 5/16-inch staples
- Pencil
- Fabric shears
- Utility knife
- Iron

Create a Pattern

Design your own cardboard pattern and use a pencil to trace its outline onto insulation sheathing.

Trace the Shape

Flip the pattern as desired, creating convex and concave curves.

Cut the sheathing

Cut insulation sheathing along the pencil line with a utility knife.

Staple the Batting

Staple batting overlay onto the insulation board using an industrial strength staple gun. Cut away excess batting.

Staple the Fabric

Spread fabric across the insulation sheathing and batting. Start with the left portion of the headboard and staple fabric to the back of the insulation sheathing. Pull fabric taut. Then, staple fabric to the back of the insulation sheathing’s right portion.

Cut Vertical Slits

If the pattern involves curves, first cut two-inch slits into the fabric at the board’s curves to release tension.

Move to Top

Next, staple fabric to the top portion of the insulation sheathing, inserting staples into the back of the board. Pull fabric taut and repeat the procedure on the bottom portion of the insulation sheathing. Cut away excess fabric and batting with fabric shears.

Iron It Out

Lay headboard flat and iron or steam out wrinkles.

Mount the Headboard

Use an existing tack strip to mount the headboard onto the wall. If a tack strip is not provided, the headboard must extend to the floor.

This website gives thanks to moxii.com for it's linens, and the advice on how to make them. You could use all kinds of things besides coffee bags too-sew together a bunch of mis-matched prints, use a sari, or how about sumptuous velvet?? What kinds of things would YOU use??? Tell me!

meadham kirchhoff take two..

2011-03-10T11:19:00.000-08:00

So, I guess you can tell I love this design duo, Meadham and Kirchhoff. I do. Their philosophy is: "Feminine designs that are considered and executed in an old fashioned manner." I found their Fall 2011 collection, and here is some of it:

I'm thinking of making some bloomers for my shop to see how they go. Would you buy them?

jeremy

2011-03-08T06:43:00.001-08:00

I don't sleep, ladies and gentlemen

2011-03-07T23:53:00.000-08:00

hi. my name is deb. i just discovered Pinterest, and my God, it's all i do. If you haven't discovered it yet, it is really cool, but you just want to fill it all up in one night or something. You make pinboards. Some of mine are: the best hair, creepy dolls, where i want to be, jewelry, art heart, photography love, and you get the picture. Oh, don't forget " cutest girls". It's like, unlimited. I sit here for hours looking at all my faves( and oh boy, do I have plenty) on flickr to fill in. people are re-pinning them left and right. That means they l ike t hem, and THEY want them too, for one of their boards. It is certainly a good way to get an interesting look at someone! So, here are my boards: http://pinterest.com/fiveorsixgirls/ Tell me what you think. I want to put my clothes on there too. But I have decided, that I almost want to wipe out my clothes and redo them all. Seriously! And get out of my own way. And stop being safe. I know, i've talked all about this before. But, I'm doing it now. Tim Gunn came to me in a dream, and told me, i was on the right track. How much more of an omen do I want? I also made the decision to start including smaller sizes. Big decisions! But fresh and good. I yet also decided, that I don't have near enough color up in here(the "bedroom"). I have weird taste, people. I have very eclectic style. Thrift store, flea market, nothing new, style. The opposite of The Pottery Barn. But I need more color around me, a LOT!
My husband Jeremy tells me that I don't ever break for paragraphs. ahem. Okay, I'll be keeping an eye on that. Meanwhile, I got my new camera today, and I AM SO THRILLED! It takes glorious pictures! It's easy to operate, and I think I can actually use it to take pics for my shop! Pictures coming. After I wash my hair.

Post Script

2011-03-02T18:00:00.000-08:00

Here is the camera I am ACTUALLY getting....

A Canon SX120is. I looked at more reviews on the Optio, and found lots of bad ones. So don't buy it! The other camera I found that cost about 100$ more than this one, ($260) was the Panasonic Lumex. Supposed to be a really good one. This Canon is supposed to have quality images, and so many at and under the $200 mark do not. Of course, I'm holding out for the Canon Rebel EOS xti, about 500$ now. I'm excited to be getting a 10mp after using a 4 for so long....and a 10x zoom too. What kind of digital cameras do you/have you had, and which ones do you like best?

I can hardly contain myself

2011-03-01T00:26:00.000-08:00

I'm getting some new things soon.....want to see? i'm so excited I can't stand it already. First, a new camera. I have had a Pentax Optio for years and loved it, but it was way time to upgrade with 4mp...so I decided to stick with the optio and go up to the RZ10. FOURTEEN mp, 10x zoom! amazing macro.

Not fancy, but a good camera for what I need now. I think I dropped my old one too many times. or, seriously? Does that make it stop taking good pictures??
Next-oh man, i'm fervently delighted about this, some vintage 60's maryjane kitten heel pointy toe shoes! Could you die? I have been trying to find shoes like this on TUK's website, but rarely do they have 11's.

Next, I'm getting some cool little earrings that I tagged in my treasury on Etsy called "Aquarius Aquarius".

Last, I got a really wonderful piece of fabric that has been hand-dyed and hand stamped.

I'm also looking at some hand-dyed and velvet ribbons and pretty, springtime soft prints.
all for now!

Reconstruction ahead

2011-02-24T23:27:00.000-08:00

As you probably know, I go crazy crazy with reconstruction and deconstruction. I am working on more of it to put in my shop as we speak. I just love grabbing stuff at the thrifts that I will use for something else...I just got a wonderful green with big white polkadots skirt, way too little for me, but it has a huge ruffle at the bottom and I'm going to use it as a ruffle around the neck. A great big one! Pictures, I promise. In the meantime, here is some inspiration..

from Lorimarsha

from Persephone Vintage

from Blueberry bike

from Renouveau Clothing

from BluebutterflyArt

from Handmade Spark

Lovers Figure 8

2011-02-16T23:06:00.000-08:00

You say it's your birthday

2011-02-13T00:07:00.000-08:00

Friday was my birthday=) I had a lovely time, and got lovely stuff from my husband Jeremy...

and my two thoughtful kids..

I went thrifting and got lots of good scores...

then to my favorite gallery (Naked Art) (it's very Portlandy) and found something wonderful for Jeremy to give me for Valentines Day (isn't that how it works?)...

painted jar lids (mine says "Mon petite chou-which means "my little cabbage", and is what my French grandmother used to call me as a child)....

a birthday mix cd from my friend Shelly (who shares the same birthday) complete with kitties!..

1.Figure 8-Lovers
2.How can we be strange-Bis
3.Bring back art-jenny hoyston
4.#1 Must have-Sleater-Kinney
5.International dateline-Ladytron
6.All yr songs-Diamond rings
7.XXXO-M.I.A.
8.Music is my hot hot sex-CSS
9.Off our back-Men
10.Telephone-Lady Gaga featuring Beyonce
11.Tight pants/body rolls-Leslie Hall
12.Something happened on the way to heaven-Phil Collins
13.Make it Beautiful-the Shondes
14.Papa Gene's blues-Monkees
15.Of moons, birds and monsters-MGMT
16.Let it rain-Tilly and the Wall
17.Dogs/Trucks-Kaia
18.Imaginary Women-Lovers
19.But the shape is wide-Tender Forever
20.You are the sunshine of my life-Stevie Wonder

the money from my SIL and MIL to order this..

.. out to my favorite restaurant Iguana Grill, then finished it off with some cuddling. Cue the candles and romantic music.(and repeat on Monday..)

Holga

2011-02-06T23:07:00.000-08:00

Just got some Holga pictures back, here are three of them.

red leaves

dunes motel

majestic

Not very many of them came out, but I like these three best. Patiently awaiting the development of a B/W roll I took with my Superheadz. I still have an undeveloped Holga roll, and then I want to shoot a roll of color in my new Diana F+. I decided I need nicer pictures on my blog. I'm getting right after that.

2011-02-01T22:03:00.000-08:00

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I must get some mens jackets and amazing pins to go on them!!

2011-02-01T21:59:00.000-08:00

I just found Ms. Carey on Advanced Style and wanted to share her with you. Not only do I love her, but I have to buy the old book she is talking about!!

These are just some of my favorite things

2011-01-29T23:22:00.000-08:00

Here are some of my favorite things on Etsy right now...

"I dreamed I was in Africa" by Italic Ampersand

Heart pin by ruddlecottage

Tin can (made from a catfood lid) shrine kit by Silver Crow

"Flies in the Honey" necklace by Schmutzerland

"Roses are Red" hat by BobbinsandBeagles

"Ruby red strawberry flower earrings" by Bohemian Jewelry

That first necklace is killer, right???! What are some of yours? I would like to see!
xx

Outfit of the shopping

2011-01-27T06:20:00.000-08:00

This is what I wore shopping on the weekend. I'm going to be posting more of these.

cardi-Target
ringer t-the thrifts
red and white polkadot skirt-thrifted and altered
loafers-ebay
bag-ebay
too short bangs-courtesy of moi

All in the family

2011-01-23T00:43:00.000-08:00

Jeremy Desmond Henry and me

Desmondo

Noah and Vesta

Sasha Henry and Noah

Voodoo donuts from Portland

I miss my family.
My husband lost his job. I have been trying to stay strong, and so is he. I need to be on different meds again. It seems like a forever-long process! Trying to find the right one, or combination to work just right. "Stay strong" my friend Debora told me. It is my mantra right now. I'm working on a sweater made from other sweaters of different colors, with the edges serged in....red! I found a thrift where the sweaters were cheaper, so I loaded up. I also bought a big pile of vintage scarves to make into other, mixed up scarves. Or to add to dresses and tops or pants or skirts. I have to immerse myself in sewing. My Etsy site is all revamped. Go and see! http://fiveorsixgirls.etsy.com . Tell me what you think! I think I need to read the book Thrift Score by Al Hoff again, it is soooo inspiring!

It was all chiffons and prints and ruffles and it reminded me of the sixties

2011-01-20T22:11:00.000-08:00

Anna Sui's Spring 2011 collection was inspired by the prarie, she says. To me, it is also very sixties and a little seventies. Soft and pretty, with mixed up prints and feather and bone necklaces with patchwork, crochet and neutral, organic colors. I am on a sixties/seventies binge (still!) and want to make clothes with this inspiration. Here is some of Miss Sui's collection:

Shop update

2011-01-06T01:56:00.000-08:00

I'm giving my shop an overhaul...better photos with the kind loaning of an awesome DSLR camera and a tripod care of my father in law. I found the white bathroom wall served me well, and went about playing around. It is hard work! Screwing around with that tripod takes forever. Then I have to check the pics, are they blurry? washed out? not working? Then I have to use software to get that yellow tint out of there. Then transfer into a file, then another file, mess around with them in my photo editing program, then put them up in my shop. I had been hanging around the forums in Etsy, getting critiqued and finding out that my backrounds of the lovely metal fence and concrete were, just not going to do. They were right. They look soooo much better, have a peek! Here are what I have up so far:

I have more, but for some reason they are turned sideways when I try to post them. What's that you say? Do I have other views in my shop? Of course I do. Anyway, here is the backround they used to have:

I know, it's hard to tear yourself away from the concrete. But try. It's much better, right? How did I go so long without realizing how unprofessional they looked? Because, I am not a professional. And I guess I didn't think they looked that bad. I've been lucky to have a good eye for composition, what failed me so greatly here? Once I started paying attention to other people's backrounds, I realized I could do so much better. With professional equipment, and creativity unleashed, you can do practically anything. I love to experiment, and stay up late hours figuring something out. I've practically got this DSLR down in just one night of playing with it. Now I want one. Hey, my birthday is coming. Anybody got a spare 1200$? hahahaha.

I was just going to give you coffee!

2010-12-31T16:37:00.000-08:00

I've just been watching The Stepford Wives(the old one, of course)..twice, actually-I just can never get enough of Paula Prentiss!

(on the left).
I loved their outfits(pre-transformation),. How about Miss Prentiss's two tone flares and amazing midriff-bearing wrap top?? I just loved the era! and it got me remembering all the things I used to wear in the seventies. Here are some things that were popular, that I also owned:

I had these exact shoes!! They were so comfortable and looked great under long bell bottoms and with maxi skirts or shorts.

Heishi (pronounced "hee shee") necklaces! Mine looked a lot like this one, with coral and turquoise. Actually, I still have it, but I never wear it.

jelly fisherman sandals! I had this style. I don't remember what color mine were.

alpaca poncho! mine looked just like this. I loved to wear it with my long blonde hair in braids.

the djellaba!(pronounced "jell-aba") I had one. I made it out of striped cotton. I used to wear it over other things, or as a lounging dress on it's own.

Authentic navy wool pea coat from the army-navy store. They were so cheap there, and sooo warm. I wore mine until it fell apart! I would love to have one just like that now...

painters pants from the paint store! my friend Carol and I would buy several pairs(they were like 6$) and take them home and rit dye them. I had a pair of orange and a pair of pink and a pair I left off-white. I LOVED these pants.

Oaxacan peasant blouse! The most popular ones had these little string ties at the sleeves. I had one and I cherished it! One of my staple outfits was my Oaxacan peasant and my Levi 501"s.
There were so many other things, like high-waisted bell bottoms, which were tight in the hips. I loved how these looked on, but I much preferred my 501's all through the 60's and 70's. Maxi dresses. I loved them, I used to make all of my own. Such easy dressing, a maxi and a pair of sandals, and you're out the door! I'm so happy I grew up when I did. And I'm so excited to be a part of fashion in 2011 and beyond. Happy New Year!! xoxo

Honey, would you wear a coat that looks like a really cool bathrobe?

2010-12-27T22:02:00.000-08:00

While I have never done a post about menswear, the Spring collection of Alexander McQueen(may he rest in peace) is so fantastic, I had to bestow it on you here. The details, the shoes, the socks, how the pants are cut. The collars. In actuality, I'd never get my husband to dress like that=) But I think it's just dreamy. The last one is my favorite, oh my God. So inspiring.

Ellen on Body Image, and Beauty

2010-12-26T23:58:00.000-08:00

I can do it in a snap

2010-12-19T19:14:00.000-08:00

Just a note to say-I DO make clothes in smaller sizes too upon request! I make clothes for my daughter all the time. Here is a shirt i made her with petals. She wanted it to look like earth, with green life growing out of it. She is a size 8-10. Just ask what you are interested in and I'll let you know if i can do it. yay!!

And now for something completely different

2010-12-17T01:21:00.000-08:00

Remember I told you I was going in a different direction with my clothing? Well, not so much a different direction, but more the way I used to make them... I started digging through my boxes of fabric, and began pulling out all kinds of things to play with. I want to go back to making clothes with mis-matched prints, two or more, and ribbons and vintage trims. Experimental construction. Fringe. Pompoms. Doing a lot more deconstructing and reconstructing. Big huge corsages made out of tulle and organza or shantung. Gypsy skirts. Lace. Camis hand-dyed and slips made into dresses . Sink-in-your-teeth velvets. Exposed stitching. Hand-sewing. Embroidery. Vintage T shirt parts attached to other fabrics and made into something new. I need to make what is really in my heart. This is the real me. These are some of the things I have made before:

Tunic from a vintage slip and vintage scarves.

peasant with vintage mixed prints.

reconstructed dress made out of vintage fabric, a thrifted skirt and shirt.

pieced together dress with vintage sex pistols tshirt sleeves .

cut up and laced with leather and grommets up the sides.

chinese kimonos and vintage scarves

inside-out brocade with a silkscreened red bird and a red ribbon.

ruffle made from purple stretch lace.


reconstructed top with vintage applique.

vintage prints and velvet dress with handmade poppy.

vintage scarves with tank and applique

I don't want any regrets when I get old about, did I truly do what I loved? Did I go all out? I think I just had a period where I felt I needed to be "safe" with what I made. While I liked everything, underneath I longed to just be mad and unrestrained..Don't think about "will they like it? Do I need to tone it down?" I tell myself-Don't compromise. Let all your imaginations and visions be translated into reality. Keeping you posted...

Gone but not forgotten

2010-12-14T22:04:00.000-08:00

Since I have been hanging around in my pjs for days and days (due to uber sickness), I've had no outfits of the day to post. So I thought I'd give you a glimpse of all the incarnations of haircolor I have possessed. Are you a crazy dye-er too? What kinds of dye have you used? I've used manic panic, punky haircolor, special effects, and lots of boxes of over-the-counter stuff. For YEARS. Now, I'm brown with blonde highlights. No more dyed pillow cases, towells that won't wash out, stains in the shower. But I do miss the fun that colored hair can be.

and now

It really was a good idea

2010-12-07T19:27:00.000-08:00

I made this dress about three years ago for my store. It never sold. I don't know why, I thought it was awfully pretty, and kind of rockabilly with it's polkadots and orange underskirt.

I just love polkadots! (One reason I love Mondo so much=) So, the other day I was looking at it and I thought "hey!" why don't I make a skirt out of it? So I cut the top off (oo yes I winced!) and now I am sewing elastic in the waistband.

It will still have that rockabilly feel, as it will be below the knee. A great party skirt! Course, I always think of fifties styling, and would love it paired with little socks and loafers. I promise to model it when I finish. Then, it will go either into my Etsy shop, or at Fat Fancy in Portland where I also sell my clothes. Rock on! xxx

Overhaul!

2010-12-06T22:56:00.000-08:00

I'm changing my blog around. It's in progress. I'm bad at HTML so it will take me a minute or two. Here's my newest mini-dress just to tide you over. Isn't it Beth Ditto-ey? I want it for myself. But you know, business.
see you soon! xxx

Zombie-dog!

2010-12-05T15:37:00.000-08:00

my 12 yr. old niece Maggie made this zombie dog for her dad for his birthday. She sewed on little pink beads for the brains. I think it is AWESOME!!

Save on fiveorsixgirls!

2010-11-30T21:21:00.000-08:00

For four days only, fiveorsixgirls will be offering a coupon code for 15% off of any item in my etsy shop. No need to click anything, when you purchase an item, it will automatically take the amount off for you. Sale ends Saturday at midnight! the secret word is....."morrissey" xxx
ALERT!! Sale has just been extended to two weeks!! Lot's of time to decide. Come on over! xx

THANKSGIVING

2010-11-29T11:34:00.000-08:00

I haven't been posting because I have been in Oregon for Thanksgiving. I had an amazing time! Soaking up the love from all my family for a whole week. I didn't want to come back! All that and rad finds from the thrifts!
How was your Thanksgiving? What did you eat? Vegetarian or non? We had a bird of course. And the best mashed potatoes in the world care of my daughter's boyfriend Steve. I am sooo relaxed. Hope it lasts=) xx

Sia - You've Changed (Full-length video)

2010-11-17T17:48:00.000-08:00

The Pains of Being Pure At Heart "Heart In Your Heartbreak"

2010-11-15T15:48:00.000-08:00

new single from the Pains-ooo i love it!

Style is ageless

2010-11-11T14:38:00.000-08:00

Lately, I have been looking at some blogs of women who are older, older than 50, and who have great style. It all started when i found the blog "Advanced Style", which i have a link to on the right. It is amazing! Getting older myself, I thought this would help me passover into "older" without having a big crisis about it. It did. Especially this woman called Debra Rapoport, whom I have written about on this blog earlier. I had been playing around with the idea of doing an issue #3 of project 50(my zine) on personal or individual style. I got busy thinking of who i could put in it, and Debora came to mind first. So, I wrote to her and she graciously granted me an interview. I decided I really wanted to put it here, on my blog, so here it is=)

Deb-at age 11, i was wearing a lavender rosary, my grandfathers button down shirt, tie and jacket, black tights, and an annette funicello hairdo.
did you do a lot of dressing up when you were a child?

Debra-OH YES...I think I always dressed up for as long as I can remember. There was a long while when we had limited furniture in our living room because we were always on the verge of buying a house. So Saturdays were often spent with my sister. We would turn on music and dress up in fabrics, old clothes, hats etc and dance and prance around the living room. My mother encouraged it and loved it. We didn't play with dolls much because we had ourselves to entertain us.

I always had an unusual take on what I wanted to wear. I was a bit spoiled so my mother took me to the shops I wanted and she indulged me. I wasn' t over the top, just I could choose what I felt good in. Many things were uncomfortable to me and I wouldn't wear them.

In high school I was voted "best dressed" but also because most unusual. Not the cheer leader, popular type; just the artist type who moved to the suburbs from NYC! What an outcast in the mid 50's. It was fun.

I majored in art and design and a lot of what I did related to the body. My graduate work at UCBerkeley 1969 was FIBROUS RAIMENTS:Textiles Related to the Body. I have always loved taking things and draping them, layering them building on my body. It is part transformation and part self expression stating who I AM. A lot of my work I call A/B/C ..... Assembling/Building/Constructing...this also applies to how I apply clothing to my body.

I attribute a lot of this to my Mom. She had wonderful taste, but also loved the unusual as she was a unique and wonderful woman. My Grandmother was also an influence because she would always allow and encourage us to be creative. She was the most non-judgemental person I know!

So how could you go wrong experimenting with your body.

Our bodies are something we deal with EVERY SINGLE DAY OF OUR LIVES...whether we like them or not. We have to come to terms with them and grow to LOVE them. Our bodies are our God-given gift that gives us the right to be here on this planet! So let's celebrate it, honor it and embellish it each and every day.

I have always believed in personal style and I have not been devoted to fashion trends. Yes, it is fun to be inspired when there is something terrific out there. But I am not just a consumer buying the most current thing. Be inventive, re-invent things, do trades/gifting with others.

Most of all have fun.

Deb- what were some of your earliest inspirations?

Debra-My earliest influences were beautiful objects, textiles and unusual things. I esp. loved ethnic influences way back when I was mid- teens and 20's. The layering, patterning and multiple textures. I can't really say WHO? It is more WHAT.

Deb-When you get dressed each day, do you build on a certain garment, accessory or color?

Debra-When I get dressed each day I first think/feel the day... what is the weather and what am I doing? Then ONE garment may pop into my mind and I begin to build from there. That first choice MIGHT be color because of the mood of the day and what I am doing. I may have the need for INTENSE color or I might want to be SUBTLE to suit my mood.

If I have a particular garment or accessory that I am focusing on or is new, then I might build from that wanting to "show it off" and feel its effect!.....

Deb--Do you ever have "I don't know what to wear" days?

Debra-Rarely...because there is always ONE thing that I am in the mood to put on and then...it may take me a little while to figure out "now, what to I put with this today??" So I go to mood and events of the day and it unfolds. When I open the closet and the choices pop out then I can "FEEL" what i need to do next. It is always fun and moves me into the day. I don't think I could ever wear a uniform because that would "stunt" my mood. It is the same way I choose my food each day. What mood am I'm in and what do I need in the way of color, texture,form. It IS ALWAYS joyful.

Deb-Last question:who are YOUR style icons, past and present?

Debra-My Style icons are

Katherine Hepburn

Audrey Hepburn

Tilda Swinton

Iris Apfel

Gitte Lee...see Ari's recent post on Advancedstyle of her in Vogue Italia!!!!

Thank you, Debra! xxxx

I am so grateful to have been able to talk to Debra, she is a warm and lovely person! She not only has remarkable unique style, but is an incredible fiber artist who makes so many wearable art pieces...

Two great looks are: This neck piece made out of shredded newspaper and baby eggplant.

a hat made from tubular knitted copper wire, wide ribbon, wooden sticks, and waxed banana paper painted with acrylic and some vintage silver tinsel ribbon.

Debra is one of my top style icons! You can check her out on the blog Advanced Style, which i have listed on the right. There are many videos there of her as well, just incredibly inspiring! xxx

Anything Can Happen on Halloween

2010-11-01T16:06:00.000-07:00

All Saints and Souls Day

2010-10-29T06:26:00.000-07:00

As we all get ready for Halloween, some of us are also getting ready for Dia de los Muertos! I'm super psyched that i get to go to a big celebration for it, with loads and loads of shrines and altars, music, dancing, children's art, all kinds of stuff! I'm debating whether or not i should do the Skelly face or not. I just need a flower for my hair, and I've got a good outfit for it...so in looking up DoD skelly makeup, i found these good ones...

Too bad I don't have long black hair, but I think I can improvise. I do have a black wrap top and swirley skirt and the obligatory red beads! Since I don't have any other costume, I think this would be fun! Stay tuned for pictures! happy Halloween and DoD!!! xx

Fat Talk

2010-10-26T18:15:00.000-07:00

I've been bothered lately about talk on other blogs where people say, if you are losing weight, i encourage you NOT to, and if you are dieting, you can't be a fat advocate. I highly disagree. My own personal reasons for losing weight is to obtain stamina again, to get back the energy. It exacerbates my illness(myalgic encephalitis) and I am extremely limited to what i can do on a daily basis. I love my body right now. I love my fat belly and curves! I love other fat women as well. I make clothes for us! I think that the choice you make about what you weigh is highly individual and should never be criticized. I will always have my curves, I think they are beautiful. I support other women in staying their weight, and I support women when they want to lose some. And that's the way we all should be toward each other. Supportive, not critical. I want the same support I had when I WASN'T losing weight. I look forward to being able to go shopping again, stand at an event without having to quickly find a place to sit down, not having to use a wheelchair or a scooter. I give props to other bloggers who are supportive to all. We need to be behind each other. It's too important. xx

I crave white

2010-10-24T14:57:00.000-07:00

I've been wanting to make a white, longish flowy dress for some time. I found some fabric that was tone-on-tone white flowers and have been hunting out what to do with the hem. I want something flowy or hankerchief like, and i found a few pics :

I want it to be below the knee. It's going to be a sort of empire waist, with little sleeves. It's semi-sheer, so someone would have to wear a slip underneath. Actually, a cami and black tights, and off white shoes. oooo, I have the perfect s hoes too. Maybe i'll want to keep this! oo i want to, but i have to make stuff for the shop. This will be a 4x. I tried it on and it looks incredibly beautiful against skin! I am in the mood to make pretty dresses right now. I think after this one(and i'll post it), i'll make more=)
Post Script....I lined it in another fabric, one with very delicately raised dots. i made the top half hankerchief points on the sides, and the botton points on front and back. I scattered fleece petals, the kind i always make, on the bodice. Pics in a day or two!

Plastics - Top Secret Man (SCTV stereodub)

2010-10-16T05:56:00.000-07:00

Fall Playlist Pt. 1

2010-10-16T05:54:00.000-07:00

Kiss and Tell-Brian Ferry
If You Leave-OMD
Stay-Oingo Boingo(madly in love with young danny elfman)
I Wanna be a Cowboy-Boys Don't Cry
Los Angeles-X
Dumb Waiters-Psychedelic Furs
Right Here-Go Betweens
Hairdresser on Fire-Morrissey
Safari-Breeders
Psycho Killer-Talking Heads
Riding on the Rocket-Shonen Knife
Top Secret Man-Plastics
Middle of the Road-Pretenders

Photofun

2010-10-13T17:48:00.000-07:00

I had an entry about the Superheadz roll that i took, and how i was disappointed. i deleted it. i'm sorry i did. Seems i think you can just buy something and shoot it and boom, you get exactly what you want. i have soooo much to learn! I got to talking about holgas and film and cross processing with a new friend, and i think i have only barely scratched the surface. I found the site Lomography and once i started, there was no turning back! There is sooo much information there, i will be reading for a long time. So many types of film, combinations of film/cameras, processing,...I am sending for a few rolls to start and see how i go. So, I can use my h olga, and my Superheadz both in trying different 120 and 35mm film. I also have a Smena, but it's at home in storage. I only have two shots, double exposures that i did with my holga a few years ago to show you. Bear with me, i am a beginner at this. Since i can no longer take my beloved Polaroids, i am excited to delve into a new realm of photography!

Those are the only two i saved. Too bad! I might have looked at them with a different, less critical eye now. I don't k now what kind of film they were because i wasn't writing such things down at the time, but for sure they were just drugstore variety.
In other news-I went through several days of not sleeping. I mean NOT sleeping. Four nights. I slept a couple hours one morning, but that was about it. Trying different meds. Becoming manic and feeling like i was in a nightmare. Last night, I finally slept. It took me awhile to get t here, but i did sleep. I hope I'm on my way back to normal. I do weird things when I'm manic. This is the worst my sleep disorder has ever been.

Happy Birthday, John

2010-10-09T03:46:00.000-07:00

LOVE for Diana

2010-10-07T12:50:00.000-07:00

and this photo of Diana Vreeland LOOKS just like a Matisse painting! Have a fabulous weekend xx

Matisse

2010-10-07T11:52:00.000-07:00

One of my very favorite painters. I need to look at his beautiful work today, and so I thought I'd share them with you, too.xx

Meadham Kirchchoff Spring 2011

2010-10-05T21:25:00.000-07:00

delightful!

We make zines

2010-10-05T16:00:00.000-07:00

As you can see on the right, I am a member of "We make zines". It is a wonderful site to belong to! There are many groups you can join, all geared to your individual needs. People over 30, people over 40, people in the south, a zine-trading group, for riotgrrrls, for feminists, for fatties, for mental illness, for photographers, and many more. I am having a ball in the zine-trading group, called "Let's trade zines!". I have gotten scads of zines, all so different, and oh-so much fun! Some, more serious than others, which are lovely. I just love getting a manilla envelope with a surprise or two inside! Sitting down in a comfy chair (or sprawling on a bed) with an iced latte(or it's getting to be a hot latte soon..)and a stack of zines is a swell way to spend a day. I highly recommend joining, and getting in on some great reading, as well as making new friends! I now have a penpal in the UK. Hurrah!

reality bites - my sharona

2010-09-29T17:19:00.000-07:00

2010-09-27T15:34:00.000-07:00

Moleskin
I have a moleskin notebook where I draw mostly self-portaits.

I know this doesn't look like Morrissey!(and I even spelled his name wrong! I swear the pic i drew it from had hair like this, not swoopy like usual...

2010-09-24T17:41:00.000-07:00

Here is the mirror I showed you, painted completely. I just looked at some Mexican folk art painting, and just flew by the seat of my pants. What do you think?

2010-09-23T06:23:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Bollywood!