The Lunatic & The Swan

well dressed lady freaks

2010-03-24T00:24:00.000-07:00

Lately my artistic inclinations have been photographic in nature, and here is more evidence of that...

I love, love, love fake moustaches.

I love extreme angles.

For more photos from this series, check out my fashion and style blog, Revolution is Sexy.

beautiful lady freaks from the glam rock opera

2010-03-22T03:25:00.000-07:00

Thus is the title of my latest photographic series, which will be featured at a local Co-op Boutique and Gallery called Sparrow in May. I have designed and sewn the dresses, styled the hair and makeup, photographed and edited, everything except model. I even built the shelves in the background.

The ladies are drinking jasmine oolong from Teavana.

The references to Marie Antoinette are intentional.

For more photos from this series, go to my fashion and style blog, Revolution is Sexy. Or stop over at my flickr account.

The Mad Hatter's Tea Party

2010-02-15T16:19:00.000-08:00

It’s that time of year again. Tea Time.
This time around my somewhat annual Mad Tea Party will be a bit more traditional and a bit more mad.
Three Sunday afternoons have been set aside in February, March, and May. Come rain, shine, syphilis or lead poisoning afternoon tea will be served at 3pm.

My grandmother's buttons.

2010-02-08T14:11:00.000-08:00

About a week ago my family came down to visit me. Amongst the many wonderful treats they brought, was a large brown envelope filled with my grandmother's button collection. Though I had to stop buying jars of them at flea markets because my collection grew so large, I am happily accepting this contribution. Though I would usually painstakingly organize these by color, I am considering keeping them all in the envelope they came to me in, so I will always know when I use one of my grandmother's buttons.

My favorites.

Mike's favorites.

Cufflinks for the Groom

2010-02-06T17:28:00.000-08:00

Wedding Accessories are next on the wedding planning check list for Andrew and Emily. Since the groom was not as familiar with Etsy, I started doing some cufflink shopping for him to give him an idea of what's out there in the wonderful world of handmade...

These cufflinks by JMGJewelDesign are functional compasses! I think they fit with the woodland setting of the wedding, and they definitely add a little fun to the groom's outfit.

These map cufflinks by Bellamodaartist feature the east coast, the area to which Andrew and Emily took a romantic road trip.

These steampunk cufflinks by StJoshua would add a small touch of the techno-surrealism so inherent to the steam punk aesthetic. They also fit the color scheme of the wedding quite eloquently.

These cufflinks by nouveaumotley are definitely steam punk! And the copper clock works fit with the copper in the bridesmaid dresses.

Here's another pair of clockwork cufflinks this time by CufflinkConnection.

These smoked topaz cufflinks by SimpleYetElegant are elegant and their warm color would fit well with the color scheme in the wedding party's accessories.

These cufflinks by Cufflinks are definitely playful! They remind me of the bride and groom because they are both well known for their love of Scrabble.

These eucalyptus wood cufflinks by CASEmethod fit with the warm colors of the wedding while also being a unique way of reflecting the wedding's natural setting.

This is another pair of beautiful wooden cufflinks, this time by dfuss.

The Wedding Planner Searches for Guest Books

2010-01-30T05:38:00.000-08:00

Here is a lovely and diverse selection of hand bound guest books that I found on Etsy. Maybe one of these will find it's way to Andrew and Emily's wedding!

Sheet music guest book by Elegantly Bound

Paisley guest book by Earmark

Leather Journal by crearting.

Journal by lacunawork.

Blank book by huishbooks.

Another book by huishbooks.

Honey and indigo guest book by EmersonBindery

White lace guest book by Daisyblu.

Bird cage guest book by kateblocher.

Groomsmen Ties

2010-01-26T20:19:00.000-08:00

Etsy has once again proved to be a gold mine for wedding accessories. I am doing some research for a tie which would be a gift for each groomsmen as well as a stylish accessory to bring continuity to all their outfits on the big day. I found toybreaker's shop which has a special deal when you buy 6 groomsmen ties at the same time...

The six ties can have any design regularly featured in the shop.

This tie would fit a steampunk theme.

The poppies on this tie would fit natural Art Nouveau themes.

These ties are perfect for an outdoor wedding.

A tie tree pattern like this would also be perfect for a woodland wedding.

The bride mentioned the possibility of using bees in the decorating theme, and these ties would be perfect.

All the ties listed above are microfiber, and more colors for ink and fabric are available!

A new wedding blog to keep my eye on...

2010-01-23T20:22:00.000-08:00

Since the bride and groom's schedules have been so busy, we've gotten a bit behind in the wedding planning process. In order to catch up to ourselves, we all set aside a big chunk of time tomorrow to spend together getting the ball rolling. I've been trying to do a lot of research to prepare for our afternoon together, and today I discovered a new wedding blog that is sure to provide buckets and buckets of inspiration: Green Wedding Shoes. They even featured a Steampunk Wedding, which is one idea we've been tossing around! The styling is very near to what I had been imagining, with a mixture of vintage oddities and organic beauties.

Pretty in Pink and Purple and Other Pastels

2010-01-21T10:30:00.000-08:00

For my 8th birthday, my dad and uncles surprised me and transformed an awkward side room on the second floor of my grandmother’s ranch style house into my little girl dream of a pink and purple bedroom. Everything was the pastel lace kitsch that you’d expect. The slanted ceiling even had a wall paper border featuring fairy tale cottages surrounded by flowers.

All the bedding and pillows were hand sewn by my crafty grandmother.

After 16 years, I’ve decorated in themes of black and blood red, emerald green and royal purple, and anything neon that I could get my hands on. I’ve been around the aesthetic block. But I think I am starting to return to my roots. I long for pastels; for a fairy tale shabby chic. Thank goodness for thrift stores, Home Depot, and Etsy!

I’ve been re-doing my bedroom in a style not unlike that surprise birthday redecoration 16 years ago, but it’s not ready for an unveiling. In the meantime, here are some Etsy treasures that inspire me in the style that I’m currently aiming for.

This wall decal by ArtConductor would bring a fresh and whimsical feel to the walls without overburdening them with the repetitous patterns of wall paper.

There's almost nothing girlier than this scented sachet by discerningchichi. Wouldn't it be lovely to have all your t-shirts and socks coming from their drawer smelling like lavendar and roses?

This garland by Poppylarity is one of the cutest "upcyclings" of vintage materials that I've seen in a while, and the floral patterns would definitely bring a shabby chic vibe to a room.

This delicate lampshade by nice would be a lovely little touch, don't you think?

Sadly this creamer by manland has already sold out. I do love a tea party, and this would look gorgeous on a nice table cloth surrounded by cups of jasmine green tea and almond scones.

This serving plate by FoxandClover gives a slight modern twist to the beauty of the doilies

Steampunk Wedding: Bridesmaid Accessories

2010-01-17T19:45:00.000-08:00

Almost immediately after announcing her engagement, the bride had already purchased the bridesmaid dresses from a fantastic local designer called Moshi Moshi. The color and style of the dresses have been a starting off place for the rest of the wedding's color scheme. I am thinking a great way to add a touch of steam punk style without heavy doses of clockworks will be to use the dark Victorian femininity so prominent in steam punk fashion. Here are some really lovely steam punk accessories that I think would look great on the bridesmaids at Andrew and Emily's wedding!

I am thinking feather fascinators, lace, and boleros...

This rooster feather headband by mandiesuee has beautiful colors and textures.

This feather fascinator by PegasusMaiden matches the colors of the brides maid dresses perfectly: coppery reds, black and shades of white.

This lace necklace by treeandkimball would accentuate the black lace and pearl details in some of the bridesmaid dresses.

This black silk bolero by maryandangelika would add a victorian element to the bridal party's ensembles.

Steampunk Wedding: Bridal Accessories

2010-01-17T19:19:00.000-08:00

It's that time in the wedding planning process to start buying wedding accessories. And since it's the bride's special day, why not look at some special accessories with a steampunk flair just for her?

This raw silk bolero by maryandangelika would be a really lovely way of giving her outfit a bit of edwardian refinement.

This bolero by bonzie is also made from raw silk and would be another gorgeous way to keep the bride's shoulders warm.

Though this particular vintage parasol sold by GraciesCottage might be a bit too shabby for the bride to use as is, it is still a truly exquisite piece that definitely evokes the antique style I associate with steampunk.

This small parasol sold by VintageWarehouse is for a child and might not do much to protect the bride from the elements, but it would certaintly add an elegant touch to her ensemble.

This lace clutch by recycledrings would be the perfect combination of useful and beautiful for any bride to carry around.

These bridal cuffs by bonheur are a delicate adornation for the wrist and filled with sumptuous textures.

This bouquet by buttonmoonbouquet would be a delightful and unique alternative to flowers, and these button blossoms would last forever!

Steampunk Wedding

2010-01-17T19:13:00.000-08:00

After a brief holiday break, the business of wedding planning has started to keep me busy again. I spoke with the bride and groom for the Autumn Wedding I am planning, and after looking through some collages in her "wedding idea book" I suggested incorporating some steam punk aesthetic into the decorations, as a way of having something a bit gothic and Victorian without too much black. As usual, I turned to Etsy as a way of exploring some really beautiful handmade touches capable of adding a unique, steam punk touch to the celebrations.

These table numbers by AdornedbyDana have a pretty victorian design that would add sophistication to a wedding tablescape.

These place cards by happyhound have a stately feel that would add an aristocratic and antique touch to the decorations.

This vintage style signs by the backporchshoppe would be a great way to guide guests in the right direction while adding a charming visual effect.

This ring pillow by Joyananda is a quirky but exquisite piece that would add a very special touch to the wedding ceremony.

More self portraits in bathroom mirrors...

2010-01-07T10:56:00.000-08:00

In a previous blog entry I posted self portraits that I had taken in bathroom mirrors. It appears as though I missed a couple! This pair is almost a year old, I found them hiding in some forgotten corner of my iPhone's internal storage. Enjoy!

New Year's Eve

2010-01-07T08:56:00.000-08:00

Our New Year's portrait as a couple.

Our Two Year Anniversary

2010-01-06T21:07:00.000-08:00

For our two year anniversary, Michael made a delicious lunch from groceries I picked out at Outpost. Two of the side dishes were my favorite vegetables; the zucchini was cooked with thyme and fresh ground pepper, and the broccoli was cooked in sesame and peanut oils. The couscous had pine nuts. The fish were two thick fillets chopped up, and cooked with a sauce of dill, celery salt and butter. Michael doesn't drink, but I had some Rose Cava to wash it all down.

Seaside Sacred Space

2009-12-31T11:49:00.000-08:00

When I first began filling my sketchbook with fabric swatches and paint samples, I envisioned a seaside color scheme for this room. I was specifically thinking of the warm sky blue that artists usually paint Mother Mary's robe. Gold was a quick and easy choice for a warm contrast; it's like the gold illumination so many holy women and men have in icons of all religions. After choosing some paint for my inspired stackable cube shelves, and putting most of my sacred statue collection in their new home, the rest of the room has just been evolving from here.

I first junk picked a few of these cube shelves and after discovering how delightfully versatile they are, I bought some wood at Home Depot and made a bunch more!

My holy family include many Virgin Mary's and just as many Buddhas. There are also a number of dashboard Jesuses and a handfull of Saints. And to round it out, I've included a few earthy pagan pieces, like antique jars preserving white moths and tiny snakes.

Though the first couch I've ever owned fits the color scheme and is in its place, I'm waiting to share pictures of the rest of the room till I feel I've got it just right.

Cranberry sauce from scratch...

2009-12-31T11:15:00.000-08:00

Here's another picture of some of the food we made at my White Elephant party...

I love the way the sugar looks like snow on the cranberries.

Self Portraits in Expensive Mirrors

2009-12-30T21:26:00.000-08:00

These reflective surface self portraits were taken at the Fox Skylight Antique Gallery near my house. I had a lot of time to snap covert shots because I went with an out of town guest who took his good sweet time carefully browsing all three floors. You can read more about that at my style and design blog: http://www.revolution-is-sexy.blogspot.com/

Notice the note in the lower right corner says "Yes! Cowboy Fold out." There was no indication of anything cowboy related anywhere near it. Very strange.

I am particularly fond of the circus poster behind me.

Here I've convinced my friend from Minneapolis to take a break from rummaging through the dusty piles of treasures to post for a picture with me.

I have recently been attracted to gilded things, especially mirros it seems...

Also: lamps, fancy gilded lamps. I have been looking for one to put on my bedside table. I bought one at a thrift store, but it's got a blue bulb and I didn't find out until I got home that the shade is glued in place. Blue bulbs are not romantic!

Two mirros in one picture! Bonus!

I think I need a chandelier. And a peg board wall. I think about both of these things often.

White orbs in photographs are usually spirits. You'd have to expect an antique mall would be haunted, with the ghosts of antique dealers, probably. That orb isn't a dead person, just a cool lamp.

I love the contrast of the pretty wood mirror with the chain link fence.

I wonder if this is narcissistic? Possibly, but it's fun. If hoards of teen agers can do it and post their results all over MyFace and Spacebook, then I can write a little blog about it. Besides, I know I'm not the only artsy, camera phone wielding narcissist out there. :-)

How? Because there's a flickr pool dedicated to us!

Self Portraits in Bathroom Mirrors

2009-12-30T21:05:00.000-08:00

The silver lining on the cloud of one particular ER visit in my adolescence (the reason for which I cannot now recall) was discovery a beautiful article on the website for The Mirror Project in an Oprah Magazine.

In college I submitted to this website often, and even printed out a screen shot of their home page when one of my submissions was chosen as a "notable recent entry". Though I have not submitted anything to them in a long time, the urge to take my self portrait in mirrors (and other reflective surfaces) remains strong. I beleive it was always strong, even before discovering the website, which is probably why the first hour browsing it was so magical. Me and thousands of people all over the world get iPhones with cameras just for the bizarre hobby of photographing oneself in bathroom mirrors. Are you one of those people? I'd love to see.

Of course bathroom mirrors aren't the only reflective surfaces out there. I often find shiny objects to photograph my reflection in while out dabbling in my other hobby: covert iPhone photography while shopping. I will post some of those self portraits in my next blog entry!

P.S. I had some trouble getting the mirror project link to work, and there seem to be some other websites with the same name, so I'll share a working link to the right website as soon as I find one!

The White Elephant Tree

2009-12-29T12:05:00.000-08:00

Another Christmas ritual that I was able to recreate for our little gathering of friends, was the decorating of the Christmas tree. A few years ago, my grandmother gave me a box of old ornaments she was no longer interested in using. The box contains a wonderful variety of vintage gems, creating a collage of kitsch when they all hang together on the branches. The guests also made a few of their own, with tooth picks, napkins, and bottle corks. It made the whole process a great deal quicker and more enjoyable than when I have to decorate the tree by myself!

Melanie holds the first ornament to go on the tree! It opens up like a plastic easter egg; I assumed it was originally a creative way to give a gift.

I think Monica looks like a Christmas gnome in this picture. I love that hat!

Emily adds an ornament. She is the photographer's fiancee, and I noticed there were more of her on the roll than anyone else. ;-)

Teamwork!

Here I am digging through the box in search of more ornaments as the girls contemplate where the tree is bare and in need of more decoration.

Melanie stands next to the completed tree.

All in all the night was a lovely way to celebrate christmas, blending old traditions with new traditions. It also geared me up to throw my annual Mad Tea Party in 2010!

The White Elephant Gifts

2009-12-29T11:56:00.000-08:00

Somewhere along the way my dad’s family traditions evolved to include a white elephant gift exchange at Christmas. The family practices a somewhat different version involving a big circle of people passing gifts back and forth between them based on verbal cues in a trite little holiday tale. This year I thought it would be fun to return to the classic version of the game as an excuse to throw a party for my friends while the weather is cold and the coffers are empty.

The guest who brought that box forgot to wrap it before he came, so I got my eye on it right away! Though Leo won it, she eventually volunteered to trade me for a small pirate statue.

This was voted the worst gift, and Emily was later able to take the last gift standing, which included a beautiful scarf and some other little treasures.

When Andrew took this photograph he said, "That's the appropriate face to make when receiving socks." The truth is, I gave Becky socks for her real gift, so I think it's very fitting! She likes socks!

Although Mike appears to be enjoying his gift here, by wearing it on his face, he actually had no use for it and gave it back to me (I'm the one who put it under the White Elephant tree).

White Elephant is a great way to send all the guests home with gifts without breaking the bank. Most gifts are something the giver has lying around, that is sure to entertain the game players when it emerges from its' wrapping paper cocoon. Though some of the gifts weren't quite gags, and made the receiver very happy. All in all it was a beautiful site to see the tree surrounded by gifts! Check out pictures of the tree in my next blog entry!

The White Elephant Food

2009-12-24T14:09:00.000-08:00

Guests to the White Elephant party were asked to bring either food or drink to share with the other party goers. Well, most guests brought drink! Luckily my old friend Mark is a chef and had flown in from Minneapolis to help me cook for the party.

Here Mark and I are preparing the crustini.

A lovely pot of fresh cranberry sauce (made from scratch) simmers on the stove.

Some of my famous devilled eggs sit next to a plate of mushroom, shallot, and rosemary crustini. The rosemary was fresh from one of my own plants, still growing hearty on my window sill in December!

Here's a plate of local, organic honey crisp apples with some regional sharp white cheddar cheese.

Here is the crustini with the cranberry sauce and a cheese whose name I forget. It was made from goats milk as well as sheeps milk, with some penicillin bacteria injected to give it a delicious and mild funkiness!

Champagne was the primary drink of choice, though some guests preferred some delicious beers. One of the White Elephant gifts was actually a four pack of Sprecher's Abbey Tripel which is made right here in Milwaukee. I was told by the guest who won it that it was quite delicious. More on the gift exchange in my next blog entry!

The White Elephant Party

2009-12-22T22:36:00.000-08:00

In the interest of simultaneously entertaining several holiday season out-of-town guests, I hosted a White Elephant Party this year. The celebration combined some of my favorite things: food, champagne, friends, and kitschy holiday traditions. Several people helped bringing this party together, including two different guys named Andrew (and one guy whose last name was Andrews).

Andrew, pictured here listening to me, made three marvelous mixed CD's and dutifully listened for when the music stopped and the disc needed to be changed.

Melanie, pictured here on the right, travelled from Madison to be with us.

I bought those large ornaments at my own rummage sale.

Here I am, frozen in the moment after the cork has fired and before the bottle begins gushing.

My second friend named Andrew (Andrew Hinkle) photographed the party; I am planning his wedding and using his talents to document our little celebration is part of a larger barter.

Then there was my friend Mark, who called me at the last minute to say he was flying into town (from Minneapolis) to help me cook for the party. (Read about the food in my next blog entry!)

In the end, I had three over night house guests who came for the party! Two were from out of state, and one I hadn't seen in almost four years. The party was all about the people, and like almost all of my gatherings, everyone inevitably sat in a big circle around the biggest table, talking.

It was lovely.

the thrill of fresh markers

2009-12-03T17:54:00.000-08:00

On his way home on Sunday night my boyfriend, Mike, discovered a mom and pop art supply store going out of business. Though the shelves were mostly bare, there was a selection of over 200 art markers. He said the prices on them ranged from $2 up to $5 each. Mike is an expert haggler and apparently he offered $20 for the whole lot, and the owner accepted. When he came over to the house and laid out his bounty, I drooled. Since he had doubles of some of the colors, he ended up giving me 63 of them. There's almost nothing more exciting than new arts & craft supplies.

I still need to find the perfect container for them, since I am currently obsessed with storage solutions.

The colors are exactly what I would've chosen if I'd been able to pick.

A grocery store ritual.

2009-11-25T12:08:00.000-08:00

Growing up, my mom took me to McDonalds after every unpleasant doctor’s appointment. The promise of french fries and cheeseburgers calmed my pre-appointment nerves. Fast food was quite the treat in our household; Kix were considered junk food. The McDonalds parking lot was separated from the clinic parking lot only by a small grassless median. It was a fast and easy way for my mother to improve the mood of a child who had the usual dislike for medicines and needles.

Now I ride the bus alone to my doctor’s appointments. Occassionally I walk out the hospital doors in a cloud of mild sedation (nervous jitters are bad for medical imaging) and need a rest period before attempting the public transit system. So I cross the street and head straight through the doors of Whole Foods.

Up until yesterday, I usually passed my time wandering the aisles and using my iPhone to photograph compositions I discovered among the produce and wine bottles. But for the first time, an employee approached me yesterday. I was still dazed from the procedure performed less than an hour previous, so when she told me I needed permission from the customer service desk to take photos (“It’s company policy.”) I actually went up to customer service and asked for permission to take photos. Of course this doesn’t actually work for Joe Schmoes entertaining themselves with their cell phone cameras. And of course the general manager (actually gotten for me by a very helpful Customer Service employee) explained that to me. I gave my best semi-professional spiel, “I’m a freelance event coordinator, and I was thinking of posting a blog on using Whole Foods to self-cater an event…” (not untrue) and she did give me the URL for their press ready photos. But she did not give me permission to take my own.

So I spent the rest of my “appointment recovery period” eating free samples of pineapple and sausage and browsing their catering menu. And of course I ate some very tasty hazelnut gelato (served to me by a very friendly and attractive lesbian, with whom I shared a brief conversation about our mutual frustration over dietary restrictions imposed by health problems). I’m not sure if I am going to pretend to forget the photo rule during my next visit, if I do I will perhaps be more discreet (cell phone cameras are excellent for this). But in the meantime, I do have some lovely shots to share. Hey, no one told me I had to delete the photos I already took.

It's easy to find photographic compositions in the produce aisle.

I couldn't imagine anything more decadent than an entire sweets table at a wedding loaded with these delicacies.

I love the label on the crates beneath the pumpkins and squash...

Another delicious catering idea; how gorgeous, how delicious!

I have always wanted to paint a kitchen this color, a subtle combination of pink and orange.

The Handmade Touch

2009-11-19T15:26:00.000-08:00

Though Andrew and Emily's wedding is by no means into the decoration planning stage, I can’t help but jump the gun. I am trying to blog about some of the inklings fluttering around my brain, so they don’t dissolve before the official brainstorm begins!

Handmade weddings are preferable not only because they are cheaper but because they are always more unique. Every lovely detail is created with one wedding, one couple in mind.

Lately I’ve been dabbling in a reverie of beautiful handmade event decorations. Any excuse to feast on design blogs and browse Etsy merchandise is a good excuse. I’d like to share some of the things that inspire me.

I adore these handmade paper garlands from lobsterandswan. I discovered her Etsy store after becomming a follower of her blog. Though she’s currently sold out, she may make more, so check back in her shop.

These birdnest place cards by LittleRetreats are a lovely way to add to an outdoor theme. I also envision them as table numbers, or as ambience on the cake table.

I am also excited by unique uses of flowers at weddings. Blooms can be strewn on tables or used to adorn cakes. And these sachets of lavender blossoms by layla would make great gifts for the bridesmaids.

Browsing Etsy always provides overflowing buckets of inspiration. I love the idea of paper cranes as a decoration. You can use virtually any paper, for whatever color or texture you want. And they can be used in dozens of ways; hanging from the ceiling, resting on a table, or even adorning a cake.

I am also thinking about a handmade guest book and a handmade ring pillow… There is a nearly endless number of places to put the handmade touch.

Walrus Wedding

2009-11-19T12:13:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago I was hired by my wonderful friends Andrew and Emily to be their wedding planner!
Because they have a tight budget, we agreed on a method of bartering goods and services instead of traditional monetary compensation. Emily is making me a gorgeous gray and pastel cowl made from silk, alpaca, and merino wool right now!

Since the wedding blog hasn't been set up yet, and I want to start posting some of my ideas and discoveries, I thought I'd share a bit on here.

The groom is decidedly obsessed with walruses. He came to my Mad Tea Party last Spring as a Walrus, and whenever he has a moment of free time, he looks up pictures of walruses on his smart phone. Whenever we have a wedding planning meeting, he tries to find any way possible to get walruses into the decorating. Since I unmercifully vetoed the idea for a walrus shaped cake, I want to find something else that's really special that will fit seamlessly into the rest of the wedding plans while also satiating his want for walruses! Here's a few lovely Etsy finds that fit the walrus theme...

This cute pin (or magnet! or keychain!) is sold by theangryrobot. These would make great favors.

This gorgeous pin is sold by tarataratara. I envision it on the groom's lapel.

This tote bag by wonkyrocket would be a great alternative to a gift basket for the members of the wedding party.

Here's another tote, this time by rainbowswirlz. It comes in several colors, and could be matched to an overall color scheme.

I adore this card by erinaellis. It combines the theme of love and romance with walruses! What could be more perfect for a wedding.

This walrus journal by kilfish might be a nice gift for someone in the wedding party.

These labels definitely show off the potential for a walrus to be cute. I can think of a dozen uses for them. They are sold by nutandbee.

The bride and groom were considering walrus cake toppers. These plastic resin figurines by thebili were the closest I could find. A little veil and top hat might do the trick...

Another adorable love themed walrus card, this time by smackofjellyfish. The inside of the card reads: "I would growl, grunt and bark for your affection."

Though we are still in the drudgery of the early planning stages, we'll soon be into the fun part of choosing and making all the details that will make this wedding truly special.

I want a free sewing machine.

2009-11-02T15:29:00.000-08:00

I would poop myself if I won this. Singer ProFinish Serger? Yes please.

Make a skirt in under five minutes with the materials in your work office.

2009-10-23T08:46:00.000-07:00

Today I biked to work in the pouring rain. And not just a heavy drizzle, we’re talking flash flood kind of rain. I was soaked within the first minute, and since the bike ride takes 20, I was completely drenched to the marrow of my bones by the time I chained my bike to the fence outside work. I had thoughtfully brought another shirt and another pair of shoes, as well as a towel for my hair. But my blue jeans had taken the worst of it and I had brought no replacement for them. I tried to take a picture to prove my point, but the water had permeated them so thoroughly, that there was not a dry millimeter of denim anywhere. As a result, there was no way to tell in the photograph that the jeans were wet, they simply looked like they had been died a rich, deep blue.

Now I work alone today, so I knew I had an eight hour shift of misery ahead of me. The last time I had to sit in wet clothes for longer than an hour, I got a horrible fever and was delirious for days. I work again tomorrow, and although I have Sunday off, I knew one day was not going to be adequate recovery time to prepare me for next week’s full work schedule.

I began wishing that I had my emergency sewing kit, the one I got free amongst the toiletries at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas. The library building opened in five minutes and I imagined hastily ripping apart my sweater and sewing a skirt. I began to feel like I was on an episode of Project Runway. The twist? I work at a Seminary, and I have to be absolutely covered. No plastic shower curtain mini dresses here, no siree. Whatever I came up with had to hit the knee, and be thick enough to disguise the fuchsia colored panties I had naively chosen while getting dressed this morning.

After taking off my pants and putting them on a radiator to dry, I dug around and discovered an old yellow checkered curtain on the shelf in the employee bathroom. I knew it was too sheer by itself, so I changed into my spare shirt. The pink jersey blouse I had been wearing had stayed relatively dry under my coat, and it had a very wide, stretchy neck that was just large enough to fit over my legs. I used this as a “slip” and then wrapped the curtain over it. I flipped the bottom part of the shirt over the top of the skirt, to create another layer that would hide the fuchsia beneath.

The only lingering “indecency” was a long slit which revealed the goose pimple flesh of my cold, bare leg. I quickly searched the building for anything resembling a safety pin, finally discovering an old button in the retired library director’s empty office.

And voila!

I was no longer imprisoned by dripping wet denim and I was covered adequately in the eyes of the lord. And in a weird bohemian hipster nerd-chic kind of way, I looked cute.

My jeans will probably be dry before noon and I will probably change back into them. But at least I’m alright for now.

The cowl I've been craving...

2009-10-19T17:06:00.000-07:00

The crisp fall air has hastened me to commission a cowl from my dear poetess friend, Emily. Yesterday was a gorgeous autumn day (I wore a skirt and no socks!) and we went to her favorite yarn store, Loop.

I tried to follow my grandmother’s shopping advice: look at everything, and then go back and pick up what you remember liking best. But the price tags on some of the exquisite hand-dyed yarns of luxurious fiber mixes (cashmere, alpaca, silk) made me quickly select some pretty sustainable yarns that were closer to my budget.

Although I spent most of the shopping trip carrying around a skein of light gray 100% cotton yarn, I was later seduced by a smaller skein of gray labeled “Alpaca Silk”. It was slightly less yarn, and cost one dollar more. The feeling on my neck was enchanting. I risked a shortage of yarn to purchase this little strand of divinity. It would look and feel lovely mixed with the cotton yarn that had been dyed pastel colors that reminded me of antique lingerie and lace.

I watched Emily begin the project later that night, and I am already thrilled! I have plenty of vintage scarves to get me through the production phase, and I am patient because I know that this cowl neck scarf will be perfect for Spring. The young flowers will envy me!

The lunacy begins.

2009-10-09T10:38:00.000-07:00

Though the voting poll on my other blog is still open, I have already set my heart on The Lunatic & The Swan as the name for my new handmade brand identity. It was the only choice that was truly unique and just my own, and so future customers will have no other associations with the phrase except with my beautiful unique creations.

My first Etsy shop took many months to bring to full operation. I wanted to proceed with caution and diligence. Of course no amount of preparation prevents the near constant evolution that every handmade business undergoes. Still I anticipate that the first products may not appear for at least a few more weeks. I have spent the last few months perfecting my embroidery skills, and will probably release a line of embroidered wrist cuffs to start with.

I am still working on the various visuals that get associated with the internet presence of a brand identity. I wanted to maintain some elements that were in my previous blog. As you can see, I used an example of my art photography for this blog header as I have done with the others. However I think the Etsy banner may require a more masterful blend of art photography and merchandise photography. I will have to scrounge up some free time on a weekend to have a photo shoot in the daylight. I have a few product prototypes that I can mix in with my usual artistic flair for surrealist makeup and superlative wigs.

I am now managing 3 blogs, plus one new collaborative blog. I need to sit down and decide how to differentiate and distribute content between the blogs. Although I fear that I may have diversified myself a bit too much, I feel instinctively that it is the most appropriate course of action. Still, I suspect each blog will gather followers much more slowly than if one blog contained the content of all 3.

Maybe one day I will become a true indiepreneur and all this blogging will have been well worth it.