The French, maybe they are better than us ???

I got my new camera. Not a fancy DSLR or anything. Juts a replacement for my lost point and shoot. Lazily of course I settled for the same camera brand. Pourquoi ?? I am too lazy to learn an entirely new camera type. As my old one was three years old, and ancient in electronic terms, I am so glad to get a new model. It's lighter, faster, crisper and just all around way way better.

So what was my first assignment ?? taking pix of myself in shop windows. And as I was having my latte in the local coffee shop I took the opportunity to browse the magazines. I always pick the expensive ones because I may as well get my money's worth and French Vogue qualifies.
It's 15.95$. Upon browsing the tome I discovered that it has much in common with American Vogue : advertising. The magazine is full of it. You are paying for someone else to ask you to buy stuff. Boring... Anywhoo. I decided to photograph and share some of my favorite parts of it to save us all some money.


this is what we should buy : Shearling, capes, lace tights, metallic pants,high heel boots and see through dresses.
This to me says Says - Superhero Hooker. I am with that.



aaah, androgony. I dig this. Men in the fashion spreads and he wears it just as well if not better than the ladies. He so reminds me of Bowie too. Not bad.

This is teh guy that Sister Wolf pointed out. He's still pretty. For a minute I couldn't tell whether he was a dude or a very flat chested girl.

Marion Cotillard almost makes me believe that French women really are better than us.

Hair inspiration, I am going to pull out my rollers and try this.

Nice underwear.

Freja with a panther. I think she can win the staredown.

Apparently they are selling boobs.

Kate Moss as a leather mama, showing us all how to bend and twist.

Love the hair.



You have to turn sideways to take this picture in. ( i can't get it to rotate properly *$#$%!!!)

I think they are models. If someone said "what do you want for Christmas ? " I would say this.

I finally get the whole thing that guys have with objectifying. I could objectify them, hard.

They might be twins, I don't know...

Electric Life

I just bought this t-shirt at lunch. I asked the counter guy what it stands for. He looked at me like you can imagine he would. Anyway, I bought it. I support the truth and it was an art gallery. Therefore I have now supported the arts and what greater truth is there than that ??
The seller was also the artist, which I dig.
get a shirt here: Electric Works
and if you come to SF stop on by - Electric Works is a bright light in the crapeous SOMA are I work in.

Art Murmur - Oakland I love you!!

I did my first real, live vintage sale last night. It went very well. I sold some great stuff without much haggling and had some happy customers. everyone was happy.

I love the Oakland Art Murmur. It's two blocks from home, there is street food , music, art and other awesome vendors, myself included !!

These pix are not from last night,oh no can't find my camera - yikes- but they do give an idea of what it's like. It gets bigger and bigger all the time

Mad Genius

When I was growing up there were two women in fashion who I thought were awesome. (Besides my mom, that is. But that will be for another time )
Linda Evangelista - the chameleon with the cat eyes. Linda was a model though and that is too easy. The other was Isabella Blow. I would pour over Vogue magazine and spy this Mad Genius wearing a chain mail hood to some chi-chi party and think, she knows where it's at. This is a woman who is not afraid to be herself.
And so it remains. I may be the laziest fashion creator there is right now but I make hats too not nearly as cool as Philip Treacy's creations were but this woman was and is my inspiration. So long live the memory of Isabella Blow. May she continue to inspire future generations of misfit girls who just want to be themselves - a whole new gaggle of mad geniuses!

( thanks Sister Wolf for inspiring my post)

We have a problem

I swear shoes are now following me. I can't help myself. I am going to have to go to shoe rehab. Just found these today. Steve Madden, platforms, 5 inches with a wicker base. Like a platform basket. I am obsessed with platforms right now. That makes me trendy right ?? forget shame they were 10 bucks. actually $9.25 . I couldn't resist... really really. The woman doth protest too much. Rehab, yeah...

Immortality

To be absolutely modern means to be the ally of one's gravediggers - Milan Kundera

For Anne Sexton

I also have been Her Kind – for Anne Sexton

Therapy
Should be avoided,
At all costs
Use it
For shock value
To become
A liar
If you must
To see
How far astray
You can lead another
Never
Submit yourself
To the whims
Of those
That claim
To know
Something
About souls and brains
Nor should you
Make their couch
Your confessional
You will find
Yourself
Broken and smashed
Diagnosed and defeated
And they will brand you
Patient X or Y or Z
No matter
Your fragility
Is nothing more
Than a manila folder
Or a case study
After you have been
Sufficiently
Dissected
And
Dismembered
They will pat each other
On the back
For the job well done

When you accidentally kill someone,
No one cares

In the lab

This is my messy lab aka my apartment. Sitting down to some work here. The Craftsman tool chest is a great help containing all of my tools and jewlery supplies. Organization is not my strong point.


The finished products - Sold the lion necklace to a friend. Got these pieces from a nice man on Valencia street. They are gorgeous. Three more I can sell and I get to keep one. Already anticipating missing them when they are gone.




More finished product. The green crystal necklace is gorgeous gorgeous. Sold that one last night at the Art walk event ( pictures to come soon ). the lady who bought it loved it. It's always pleasing to sell the things I make to people who really appreciate it.
I absolutely love these rings. I think I am keeping the blue one on the left. It's too beautiful. I can't part with it. The thing about stones is they are all unique. I tend to fall in love with a lot of them. I created the wire wrapping on the rings myself by just doing it and it has worked out well. I love when that happens. YAY!

Strap it on

I've developed a bit of a belt obsession. I don't have a count on it but it's seriously serious. Found a new way to wear them. Wrap it on the wrist. The perfect solution for this vintage YSL belt. ( lest anyone think Iam a spendthrift, this was 2 bucks. Not that Ineed to justify it but wasting large sums is not only beyond my reach but ridiculous. San Francisco is a thrifter's dream)

Always Something ( more to covet )

I don't need any more shoes. That is an understatement. I really really really do not need any more shoes. But I want these shoes. All leather grey Converse. First they are grey leather - but not only grey leather, grey leather Chuck Taylors and not just that but high tops too. They are beautiful.

These are as seen on the counter of Shoe Biz (just realizing nowhow messy their counter is - Beer, a sink, a fan... Oy! my apartment is messier however I am not exposing that secret just yet )

Stuff No One Told Me

http://stuffnoonetoldme.blogspot.com/

Shoes, glorious shoes

This week was a massive week of shoes. Sales abound and I could not resist. above picture are Steve by Steve Madden Oxfords. They are a nice black shiny leather and will go with everything. Literally, everything. They remind me exactly of the shoes I used to wear in high school. I found these at Bloomingdales - 40% off sale shoes. Could not beat that, so they are now mine.


Aaah yes, Doc Martens. This is my first pair. I didn't need them. I have an amazing pair of combat boots already. However Urban Outfitters made me an offer I could not refuse, 50% off all sale shoes. I get a lot of my shoes from Urban Outfitters. They have killer shoe sales and when I say that I mean it. these were 20 bucks brand new, yup!!



This picture made me think of the Wizard of Oz - The house fell on the witch. Kitty, Teddy and Bunny are palying the Munchkins. Good job guys!

Seychelles, also bought at Urban Outfitters. I had my eye on them at full price and happened upon the last pair, in my size. also at the sale. These shoes are beautiful.

Pierre Hardy for Gap. Also the only pair left and in my size. Been wanting these for a long time as I have a thing for grey boots. They are perfection. The price literally made me want to weep. I have some kind of magical shoe manifesting powers.

These are actually from about a month ago. But so awesome I have to show them. 5 1/2 inch platform Sam Edelman's . Where am I wearing these ?? I don't know yet. But aren't they glorious ?

Doris Day - Que Sera

When I was just a little girl
I asked my mother, what will I be
Will I be pretty, will I be rich
Here's what she said to me.

Que Sera, Sera,
Whatever will be, will be
The future's not ours, to see
Que Sera, Sera
What will be, will be.

When I was young, I fell in love
I asked my sweetheart what lies ahead
Will we have rainbows, day after day
Here's what my sweetheart said.

Que Sera, Sera,
Whatever will be, will be
The future's not ours, to see
Que Sera, Sera
What will be, will be.

Now I have children of my own
They ask their mother, what will I be
Will I be handsome, will I be rich
I tell them tenderly.

Que Sera, Sera,
Whatever will be, will be
The future's not ours, to see
Que Sera, Sera
What will be, will be.

Auden

Selected Poems of W.H. Auden
by W. H. Auden
Vintage
I
Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.

Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead
Scribbling on the sky the message He Is Dead,
Put crêpe bows round the white necks of the public
doves,
Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.


He was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and my Sunday rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
I thought that love would last for ever: I was wrong.


The stars are not wanted now: put out every one;
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun;
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood.
For nothing now can ever come to any good.



II
O the valley in the summer where I and my John
Beside the deep river would walk on and on
While the flowers at our feet and the birds up above
Argued so sweetly on reciprocal love,
And I leaned on his shoulder; 'O Johnny, let's play':
But he frowned like thunder and he went away.


O that Friday near Christmas as I well recall
When we went to the Charity Matinee Ball,
The floor was so smooth and the band was so loud
And Johnny so handsome I felt so proud;
'Squeeze me tighter, dear Johnny, let's dance till it's day':
But he frowned like thunder and he went away.


Shall I ever forget at the Grand Opera
When music poured out of each wonderful star?
Diamonds and pearls they hung dazzling down
Over each silver and golden silk gown;
'O John I'm in heaven,' I whispered to say:
But he frowned like thunder and he went away.


O but he was fair as a garden in flower,
As slender and tall as the great Eiffel Tower,
When the waltz throbbed out on the long promenade
O his eyes and his smile they went straight to my heart;
'O marry me, Johnny, I'll love and obey':
But he frowned like thunder and he went away.


O last night I dreamed of you, Johnny, my lover,
You'd the sun on one arm and the moon on the other,
The sea it was blue and the grass it was green,
Every star rattled a round tambourine;
Ten thousand miles deep in a pit there I lay:
But you frowned like thunder and you went away.

I'm a sellout. I finally gave in and got some pre-ripped pants. I grew up in the era when you had to rip your own pants. Actually purchasing them in a store was unheard of. Ripped pants were a mark of pants that are so beloved that they fall apart becasue you wear them so much, taht or you are too poor to afford new ones so what are you gonna do ?? I am still trying to get my head around the carefully arranged poverty look that seems to be afforded and coveted mostly by rich kids. My favorite store ( a magical, mystical, glorious, charity thrift that has turned me into a master hoarder ) got a stash of sample jeans from the Levi's factory. I cannot resist the Levi's, brand new and under ten bucks. Then I put them on and they hugged my butt and things so perfect I had to take them home with me. They also managed to look awesome with my high top Nike's, so yeah. I swear this will be the only new pre-ripped item I ever purchase. really, really..

writing on the walls

old pictures

I rarely post pictures of myself but here I am in one of my favorite dresses. It is the perfect little mini cocktail dress from the swinging 60's. It has sheer organza sleeves, crstal buttons on the cuffs and metallic embroidery at the waistline. Since I collect dresses and haven't gotten around to wearing them all - yes, admitted hoarder - I am never sure if one will make it out of my closet and into the world. However this little number cannot stay hidden. I am wearing it with BCBG girls suede platform heels ( will not use the term "booties" ) and a cute little bag I bought in the Mission from a girl selling things outside her car. I got the dress from Mission Thrift for about 20-30 bucks. Mission Thrift was my go to place about two years ago when I lived in SF. I recently went back and the vintage dress collection is so sadly non-existent. The market has really changed. I am glad I went on a major collecting spree when i did as the bargains are just not what they used to be. It seems that everyone has finally caught on to the superior quality that I knew was there all along.

(pardon the blur face, as I said before, I think I am just kinda fuzzy in reality )

Heroes

"There's nothing wrong with you. I like you just the way you are."
-Fred Rogers

f-ing polyvore

it's like a grown up version of paper-dolls

Pretty as a Peacock by erika937 featuring Miu Miu

Been a bit down lately, as it goes. Life is apparently up and down. A series of changes. So again need to pull myself out of it.

Steps :

1. Exercise

Went to the Y, $69 per month.

CON:You can't even try it out which sucks. PRO:It is 2 blocks from home which is nice. Lot's of classes, really big. Open from 5-10.

Decided to try 24hr Fitness

CON: It's 24hr fitness, blahh - although the equipment appears upgraded. Not too many classes.

PRO: 32$ per month with no contract, if it doesn't work I can quit easily. 5 blocks from home. open 24hrs. Gave me a week pass.

2. Meditation

Worked for me before, always works. There is definiteley something to this. Going to give it a go with trying sound meditations. I have a series of Theta waves cd's which has worked in the past.

3. Count Your Blessings

Double edged sword for me. I feel worse because I know that there are people who have real problems and I can sink into feeling sorry for myself for nothing. Then I feel like an ass for being that way. Self-Hate is not helpful here.

But I am grateful for all that I am. Need to build on this.

So that's what I have so far. just a bit of the doldrums.....