52 Pick-me-up: Rust / Impasse

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I could go on and on about All the Things breaking down. The car's console (I either have blasting AC or nothing). The iMac (thank goodness I did a backup hours before it died and I have a laptop to work on). The Great Tree Massacre at work, causing a lack of shade for my lunch in the car.

Is it the universe telling me to stop and consider a different route? Or is it simply things going wonky?

Let's ignore all that and proceed to my autumn leaves outfit accessorized with my Soul Carrier cowhide clutch with rust-colored accents.

Can't fit much in there. Maybe that's a good thing.

Ah. I feel MUCH better.
I got the clutch through a Kickstarter. I was sent a pitch to help get the word out, which I neglected to do. (Oops). Jenn recently wrote that she has a few of these clutches left in inventory ($175). There are also two leather tote styles are available for pre-order on her website, soulcarrier.com that are quite handsome.

Linking up with Patti's Visible Monday [later today]
and Fun Fashion Friday on Fashion Should Be Fun

I'm probably in denial about my Impasses.
How about you?
Rust / Impasse, link and tell!

30 Minute Sketch: Maricel

"Too Hot To Function" 

Visual response to Maricel's post today on ::My Closet Catalogue::

Her quote in the post fits this experiment well:
"Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it."

― Lou Holtz

Sketching the Emmys 2015

Viola Davis gave an eloquent and stirring acceptance speech Sunday night at the Emmys.
[If you missed it, view it here.] 

It was a great moment on the Emmy telecast, some of which I sketched live:

And some from Yahoo TV's All the Red Carpet Arrivals during commercial breaks, etc:

Empire Themed Subscription Box

Most of the verbiage in this post came from a press release. Words in italics are mine. I am receiving no compensation for this post, aside from the discount that is available to everyone for a limited time.

[source]

Fun, Fly, Fabulous partners up with Fox Network for Empire-themed Launch Box

About the Launch Box
The theme of our October box is EMPIRE, inspired by the hit TV show, and ships to members October 16th. The Launch Box is meant to inspire members to build their empire and is the perfect theme for October’s Women Small Business Month. From earbud headphones that will have you in the Lyon’s Den to Design Essential hair products that will ensure your hair is fabulous for the viewing parties, the Launch Box contains everything that will have you prepared for Empire. Inside the box members will find [see visual]:

• Empire earbud headphones
• TIDAL 3-month vouchers for users to listen to the empire soundtrack
• Fortune cookies in the box representative of the leading lady Cookie
• Design Essentials full-sized hair products to look good at the viewing parties
• A “Build Your Empire Darling” t-shirt
• e.l.f Studio Matte Lip Color in Tea Rose to achieve Cookie’s nude lip style
• A bonus tea in select boxes to sip while watching the show

For a limited time only, Empire fans will receive a FREE [plus $11+ shipping charge] launch box when using using the code EMPIRE23 at funflyfabulous.com. Sign up today, and follow @funflyfabulous on Instagram or Twitter to win amazing random surprise giveaways. [Signing up initiates an on-going subscription]

About Fun, Fly, Fabulous
Fun, Fly, Fabulous is a lifestyle brand that has tailored subscription boxes to make your journey to being fabulous a lot easier.
Each month, members will receive 5 surprise product samples. These products cover entertainment, beauty, fashion, food, and home. Each box will include our Mini Magazine of inspiration and detailed benefits of the products in the box. Our team of pop culture enthusiasts sourced the hottest items and perfectly packaged them for you in one stylish box.
From emerging brands to existing brands, this is by far the best way to never lose sight with what’s trending, create a favorite list of products and most importantly, stay uplifted. This is more than just a box, it’s an experience! Our Launch Box is in partnership with Fox’s Empire. Fun, Fly, Fabulous, lifestyle boxes are $21/month, with a retail value of over $100 in products.

“As a Celebrity Publicist and entrepreneur in the entertainment, fashion, beauty, food, and home industries—This is my gift to the world,” Fun, Fly, Fabulous founder Arian Simone said.

I am VERY late to the Empire party. I'm catching up on past episodes over on Fox.com/empire.

52 Pick-me-up: Apricot / Guilt / Awakening

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It's Apricot Week on 52 Pick-me-up.
I have this tunic found in the fix-it pile. What was the problem? Arm openings too small.
Nothing a little seam ripping couldn't fix.

Except that the right side looks wonky.

Urgh. I blame the lymphedema. Thanks cancer, such a lovely parting gift. Not.

I compared it to my Go Fish tunic, which fits nicely.

Hmmmm. Will have to ponder this.

Meanwhile, take a gander at the print!

Everyone that sees it says it reminds them of M.C. Escher.
Maybe I'll make some matching leggings!

^^ Look! It's Enid as a glamazon!

The Guilt  part of Tori's Workbook verbiage for this week involves the feeling that can accompany being "selfish" and saying "No" to a request from someone. And Awakening to the fact that one must take care of oneself first to be able to care for others. And that WAS a good gift from my cancer battle. The ability to say "No" and not feeling bad about saying so. Thanks cancer, I guess. Did you have to go and give me the lymphedema? Really? Sheesh.

Linking up with Patti's Visible Monday.

Wearing Apricot? Have any thoughts on Guilt or Awakening?
Link and tell!

Style Q&A, BTS Edition

Look at these beautiful, bold sisters. They're ready for their first days of school in spunky style.

Meet Girl London on her first day of 3rd Grade and Baby Dream on her first day of Kindergarden! 

They're Becky of Pink Cheetah Vintage's daughters. When I saw Girl London's photo on Facebook, I thought -- I need to sketch her and find out more. Then, two days later, Baby Dream appears in a matching outfit! How cute is that?

  Girl London   

First day of school: "Yay", "Oh no", or "Whatever"?

Yay!

Did you choose your outfit yourself?

Yes.

Why this for the first day of school?

It was the best outfit.

Where did you get the top and skirt set, what's the brand?

It's from Justice.

What's your favorite color?

Pink

Do you have a "style muse" (someone who you admire for fashion, music, etc)?

My best friend Ciella. 

What's your favorite subject in school?

P.E.

Anything else you'd like to tell us?

No

  Baby Dream  

First day of school: "Yay", "Oh no", or "Whatever"?

Oh no!

Did you choose your outfit yourself?

No, Grandma bought it.

Why this for the first day of school?

It was comfortable.

Where did you get the top and skirt set, what's the brand?

Justice (via Grandma)

What's your favorite color?

Rainbow

Do you have a "style muse" (someone who you admire for fashion, music, etc)?

Bella

What's your favorite subject in school?

Muffins!  (Mom: We explained 'subject', but she's sticking with muffin lol) [Me: I want to study at that school]

Anything else you'd like to tell us?

Good-bye

Note: I've been hitting some major roadblocks with the sketching, so I'm posting this as is.
These two are too adorable to keep "in draft". Thanks for all your help, Becky!

52 Pick-me-up: Amber / Passion, Part 2

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Patti's Visible Monday is back in session, the epitome of a Passion project. Patti certainly inspired me to start my own weekly link-up, though I'm more restrictive and feel the need to have a theme. This week on 52 Pick-me-up, we're going with the color AMBER and the word PASSION.

I told you about my latest creative passion yesterday (shoemaking), today I give you a shirt with amber
(and honey and rust and olive):

It's a Kikit by Maurice Sasson shirt, remember that brand? A gem from Larry's stash that fits.

I wouldn't say that the amber Pantone chip (in middle) gives a sense of the fiery glow that I think of when I think of Amber the gemstone. "Honey" and "Amber" were some of the more difficult colors for me to define with a paper chip. I did Google Image searches, took screenshots (trapped on my broken iMac. Could replicate here on the laptop but too lazy).
Some beautiful earrings came up in a Poshmark feed yesterday that shows it better:

Amber Clip-on Earrings on Poshmark

Yeah! AMBER!
Linking up with Visible Monday.

Wearing anything Amber? Have a Passion for something or someone?
Link and tell!

52 Pick-me-up: Amber / Passion

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Time to talk about my newest Fashion-related Passion: SHOES!
No, not shopping for shoes, or wearing shoes -- MAKING SHOES!

I took a one-day workshop with Chris Francis at the Craft and Folk Art Museum in July.

Chris explaining our first steps

My sketch and fabrics.

We were issued bases and a footbed for a platform shoe and began by covering them with fabric

After that, it was time to tackle the straps

And that's when I fell down the shoe rabbit-hole -- I decided that I had to have red binding edging my straps.
Maybe it was the tub of contact cement talking.

It took a long time sewing it all together and this is how far I got with my shoes:

I discovered that my platform bases were not the correct size about 30 minutes before the workshop ended, which was disheartening. I didn't even get started on the ankle straps and now can't remember what I had in mind. I also don't wear shoes like this -- why spend all this time and effort on something that I won't wear?.
All the pieces have been sitting in the bag that I brought them home in.

I have not given up, however!
For days after the workshop, I started having vivid dreams about making shoes.
I looked at my bag of "culled from the closet and stuck in the garage shoes" with fresh eyes -- I had a bag full of parts to Frankenstein into new and better footwear!

I signed up for the Shoe Design class at Otis, and yesterday was the first day.

Words of wisdom from Alvin Fels, our instructor

I feel this will go well.

Wearing anything Amber? Have a Passion for something or someone?
Link and tell!

China: Through the Looking Glass at The Met, Part 7 -- Wuxia

"For many Western designers, some of the most compelling fantasies of China are in wuxia, a literary genre that is more than two thousand years old. Wuxia, which roughly translates as 'martial hero,' relates the adventures of wandering swordsmen whose martial-arts skills are so highly developed that they can internalize their qi (life force) and unleash such superhuman powers as 'thunder palms,' 'shout weapons,' and 'weightless leaps.'"  -- from The Met's website

[no information on any of these, not in catalogue]

Can you sense my frustration? Usually, if allowed, I will take photos of the information when I take a photo of an art piece. This time I didn't -- I knew I was going to purchase the catalogue. I was hoping that EVERYTHING in the exhibition would be at least listed, if not photographed. Oh well. Perhaps I'll have the energy to track down the details at a later date.

On The Met's Pinterest board for China:Through the Looking Glass I found this nicely edited video about the exhibition.
It gives a good sense of the experience.

China: Through the Looking Glass at The Met, Part 6 -- Moon In the Water

"The exhibition's subtitle, Through the Looking Glass, translates into Chinese as Moon in the Water, a phrase that alludes to Buddhism. Like Flower in the Mirror, it suggests something that cannot be grasped, and has both positive and negative connotations. When used to describe a beautiful object, "moon in the water" can refer to a quality of perfection that is either so elusive and mysterious that the item becomes transcendent or so illusory and deceptive that it becomes untrustworthy." -- from The Met's website

Calligraphy and China's export silk were featured in Galleries 215, 216, and 214.

Christian Dior, Quiproquo, 1951, Printed silk shantung

Sketches:

Alexander McQueen, fall/winter 2006, Silk jacquard

Christian Dior, Quiproquo, 1951, Printed silk shantung

Alexander McQueen, fall/winter 2006, Silk jacquard

Christobal Balenciaga, 1955-56, Hand-painted silk taffeta

Sketches:

John Galliano for Dior, spring/summer 2003 [not in catalogue]

Christobal Balenciaga, 1955-56, Hand-painted silk taffeta

Almost overwhelming was the moonlit garden staging of a lavish display of Galliano gowns.

Left to Right:

John Galliano for Dior, spring/summer 2003 [not in catalogue]

John Galliano for Dior, spring/summer 2003, Printed silk/synthetic jacquard

John Galliano for Dior, spring/summer 2003, Silk jacquard embroidered with silk flowers coat, Silk ciré ruff and dress

John Galliano for Dior, spring/summer 2003, Silk brocade dress, Gold lamé and synthetic crinoline

John Galliano for Dior, spring/summer 2003, Embroidered silk jacquard coat, Silk organza dress

Tomorrow I'll conclude my survey with some photos from the Wuxia section of the exhibition.

Note: I relied on the exhibition catalogue China: Through the Looking Glass and The Met's website for information, especially the details about the garments. Selected images from the catalogue can be viewed on The Met's Pinterest board.

52 Pick-me-up: Salmon / Self-Worth / Faith

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This is Salmon week on 52 Pick-me-up. Yeah!
I don't wear much in the salmon range.
Instead, I'll share photos of the "Salmon" book, that I have displayed in our kitchen.

Ewww. Looks like our kitchen needs a patch and paint job. Nice earthquake crack, right?
I also discovered that moths were nesting in the book.
Damn those moths. I have to keep all my grains and flours in the freezer because of them. They are The Enemy!

Here are some close-ups of the book, which I haven't looked at since I hung it in the plexi frame 15 years ago.
It's pretty cool!

The book was decommissioned from the Santa Barbara Public Library, so I imagine that I bought it in a thrift store there. I've had it for a long time -- since the 80s, I think. I totally forgot that it was a WPA publication from 1940. I also forgot about the blue marker embellishments created by "Lisa".
For my background, I chose my orange-faded-to-salmon Art Shorts, which are now on Poshmark. Yes, I'm selling all my paint-stained studio garments that no longer fit. SOMEBODY might want them!

Salmon / Self-Worth / Faith -- link and tell!

China: Through the Looking Glass at The Met, Part 5 -- Porcelain

Gallery 213 paired blue-and-white porcelain with blue and white haute couture.

Guo Pei, spring/summer 2010, [not in catalogue] 

Sketches: 

Guo Pei, spring/summer 2010, [not in catalogue] 

John Galliano for Dior, spring/summer 2005, Embroidered silk jacquard coat, embroidered silk organza dress 

John Galliano for Dior, spring/summer 2005, Embroidered silk jacquard coat, embroidered silk organza dress

Left to Right:

John Galliano for Dior, spring/summer 2005, Embroidered silk jacquard coat, embroidered silk organza dress

John Galliano for Dior, spring/summer 2009, Silk satin and lace, skirt lined with embroidered silk satin [front detail view]

Valentino, fall/winter 1968, Printed silk satin

House of Valentino, fall/winter 2013, Printed silk organza

Left photo, left to right:

Roberto Cavalli, fall/winter 2005, Silk satin

Rodarte, spring/summer 2011, Printed hammered silk crepe and silk tulle embroidered with silk ribbon

Rodarte, spring/summer 2011, Printed silk ottoman, printed silk crepe

Left to right:

Jar, Porcelain [No info, not in catalogue]

Li Xiaofeng, Beijing Memory No. 5, Qing period porcelain shards, 43 x 35.5 x 25.5", 2009

More tomorrow!

Note: I relied on the exhibition catalogue China: Through the Looking Glass and The Met's website for information, especially the details about the garments. Selected images from the catalogue can be viewed on The Met's Pinterest board.