Nov 18 2011
Nov 14 2011
I cannot begin to tell you how proud I am that I accomplished this. I stopped counting time after about hour #3. This is a basic European weave. I followed this tutorial. I have learned that I need to buy nice, quality jump rings in the future. These were the brand that was carried at Michael’s. Many of these rings have started to tarnish and wear down the coating from just being held in my sweaty little palms for so long.
Oct 31 2011
I have no answer as to what my costume was this year (Vampire, Widow, Wednesday Adams?) I only knew I wanted to make this cute collar and I had lots of tulle and feathers. And I learned a decade too late that I make a cute goth. The collar is made of white felt. The veil consists of netting gathered and sewn to black felt with a silk flower and a barette back. I also included two different kinds of black feathers. I am also wearing this red rose.
Oct 26 2011
My neighborhood is very creative and artsy and I have been told it’s cool. At times I even leave my house. One of these such events is this coming Friday, October 28th. The recently risen, Botanic Gallery is hosting it’s second opening of the season, curated by the lovely Paul Nicholson (yes, also that of the Bushwick Beer Garden fame).
The first event I attended there was all work done by Mr. Nicholson. He is a fine painter and included some works in the genre, however he can also push the envelope with his sculpture. I can’t say I wasn’t totally surprised (and slightly frightened) when I saw his now famous guittone under creation one day. This show he is curating however, gathering and encouraging works from others in this end of the neighborhood to be shown. I can’t wait to see what is chosen to be included in the collection.
@ dekaLb is an exhibition that considers the distinct character, identity, and working methodology of artists and creative people living and working near the Dekalb stop on the L train. By limiting participation based solely on geographic restriction, Botanic provides a stage for dialog between aspiring & seasoned artists at the ultra-local level. Drawing an artificial line in the sand @ dekaLb hopes to identify a community of artist residents while at the same time blurring boundaries across this creatively rich corner of New York.
You can read the press release in its entirety here. Maybe I will see you there? I’ll be wearing my flip-flops.
Oct 14 2011
Last weekend found myself and a friend spending an afternoon sitting on the front stoop of an art gallery. Unable to leave the premises during the store hours and ironically with no craft supplies on hand we had to be creative in our ways of entertaining ourselves. Thus Urban Acorn was born. Many variations were tested. Acorns were thrown into Dunkin Donut cups, they were rolled under a sign, they were purposefully bumped bocce style. It was not an easy task; environmental hazards arose such as cars and mens careless feet. Eventually a third party was added, and the soundtrack evolved from Monster Ballads to Arcade Fire, and the bitter taste of acorn finally faded. However one constant remained the same, dont ever question the possibilities next time you find yourself bored and sitting under a tree.
Sep 29 2011
Oktoberfest. The annual German party known for booze, brats and boobs. The event, swarmed to and replicated yearly by thousands of preppy, hard partying popped collar coeds, bridge & tunnel men (and their female counterparts), is really just one big ol’ orgy of nerd. As cool as drinking beer from boots and singing gibberish can seem, just take a look around when you celebrate next September. Grown men and woman wear, and make, elborate costumes. They sing. They dance, and then go back and brag to thier friends about how amazing they are for doing it. Don’t get me wrong, I fully embrace the occasion and love the event as much as that guy in a polo shirt holding the liter stein next to me. However lets just accept the fact that it is one internationaly popularized event that truly wants you to geek out.
A few years back I created the punk-rock dirndl. The fabric I envisioned was hard to track down even with all the wonderful venues in the NYC garment district. Once obtained I rocked out a pattern, sew in some ribbing and laced ribbon up the front with some hook and eyes. The corset, apron and petticoat were hand sewn, skirt from Forever 21.
This year I went a more contemporary route and chose to fashion a fascinator. I feel if Princess Kate were to hop on over to Munich she would be much more likely to wear an accessory similar to this, as opposed to the traditional fedora or braids. My version is made of leather and feathers with alligator clips.
To sob up some of the accumulated suds a delicious apfel strudel was baked. While the form turned out to look somewhere between a used up appendage and something out of the movie Tremors, once it was covered with some Hard Sauce it was gone before anyone could remember what it looked like.
Sep 28 2011
My parents just recently blew me away with cuteness, or at least this story did. I have witnessed her creativity and his interest in oddities before (I know where I get it). This is also not the first time that I have seen a lump of coal in the house. One of my earliest memories was of my mother wrapping and placing a small gift on the top of my Christmas stocking. It was so pretty in shiny gold paper I couldn’t wait to open it. When it was the first gift I tore into on Christmas morning that year I found a polished lump of coal. Clearly this was trying to teach me something (a lesson that may or may not have worked.)
It was nice to see that this time the coal was a symbol of love, not my misbehavior. Placed on top of a ring form, my father gave this to my mother with the promise that in a 1,000 years it would be a diamond for her. Make your own or order one here for your eternal love. Bonus points if you live long enough to reap the benefits.
