#MBsociallydriven: Exploring My Los Angeles, Part 1

SPONSORED, UNPAID 

I’m partnering with Mercedes-Benz to share my version of Los Angeles.
I used a special MB provided App to create this slide show culled from my Instagram feed.

THAT went fast, right?
Hey, kids, slow it down for us OLD PEOPLE!!!!!

Here are the individual photos, which you can linger over at your leisure:

The obligatory cliche Venice Beach shot. 

Chasing a giant spool on the I-105 for my #dailytruck project.
Pay no attention to my hazardous driving skillz.
The App didn't "recognize" any of my Waterlogue images, so I gamed my IG and added a source image.

Dave and Phil Alvin sketched at the Ruth B Shannon in Whittier.
I got their autographs on the sketch after the show!
This image may disallow my entry, are the Alvin brothers "celebrities"? Is a sketch of celebrities OK?
Shoot, I was thinking of doing a "My Oscars" one today...

Food. Had to include a food shot.
These Kranse Cakes are awesome and I want one NOW!
Copenhagen Pastry, Culver City. Read a detailed review on my Dessert blog.

The Mobile Studio in the back seat of my car.
I haven't been #lunchbreakfashionsketching all that much lately. I'm needing a rest period.

Wow, these photos are like a tour of my various blogs!
That's My Instagram for you, EVERYTHING in one place.

[Nerd alert]
My Inspector SpyGirl study of what the App liked on my IG.
Did not like the new multi-image album nor the Waterlogues, among other things. Why didn't it like "BOOM!"? So sad! It liked Severo a lot, that's for sure. And my #COTDstyle shots. And all the "Good morning"s.
[I made screenshots of my IG feed. The App goes back only one month. It also loads the images in reverse chronological order. Unable to rearrange images for the slideshow].

You're welcome to click on image to see bigger.
Orange √ = top App picks
Red √ = all other picks
There is some overlap at the top from gaming IG after I first tried the App.

So, what's YOUR version of [insert city name]?
If you live in or plan on visiting NYC, LA, Chicago, Austin, Miami, or Denver, Mercedes-Benz is inviting you to share your city in a simple and artistic way on Instagram. It's easy—you create a quick (but beautiful) animated album of 5 of your best geotagged photos and upload it to Instagram. [Once I get the green light, I'll add the link to the App. You have to connect through your smart device]. Then, you share your album on your feed with the hashtag #MBsociallydriven—and your photos might be featured on the Mercedes-Benz website! Get busy, the deadline is March 5.
MB suggests these guidelines:
Because this is a Mercedes-Benz brand initiative, please avoid posting the following types of photos (as much as we love them): competing car brands, celebrities, outdoor murals and graffiti, images that primarily focus on tattoos, advertising, and profanity.


[Nerd Alert part 2]
Check out the City Colorways on the MB site --
ALL THE NYC VIDEO COVERS ARE BLACK AND WHITE! And Miami is all blue! SO WEIRD!
Also, it looks like every city got its own font. Pattern Recognition, people. Pattern Recognition.

Ready to rediscover your city?

If you DON'T live in one of those 6 cities, share your local 5-image slideshow here!
If you can think of an existing App to make the slideshow, please mention it in the comments.
HAVE FUN! LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR EFFORTS!

#tbt Valentine's: The Aftermath

I think my favorite part of Valentine's these days is what happens the day after: the chocolate sales begin!

Jacques Torres, [various locations in NYC], is one of my favorite purveyors (though most likely none of his chocolates are on sale). Seven years ago, Severo and I visited the branch on Hudson Street and had fun viewing his chocolate factory (which is now located in DUMBO in Brooklyn).
It was the end of February and Easter production had already started. Lots of racks of bunnies, lambs, hens, and eggs.

Did you get your favorite chocolate this year? Share!
(not the chocolate, silly, share a photo!)

Almost All Black and White

This is what I didn't wear on Saturday:

Here are the bracelets that I photographed and also didn't wear:

Technically, the studded item is an old belt from the 80s that no longer fits around my waist.

This part DID make it beyond the patio to Otis for my Digital Design class then to Whittier to see Dave and Phil Alvin:

Starring the new-to-me zebra clogs! I love them! They are so VISIBLE!

The meeting of the dot socks and the checkered leggings was a bit unresolved. Which to layer on top?
In this photo, that I took during break at Otis, it looks like I popped my ankle and it became swollen:

No injury, just extra fabric in a wad.

About the wardrobe change: all the black and white elements remained on my person. I realized the Todd Oldham mosaic jacket wouldn't keep me warm enough after sundown, so I donned something warmer. Then, just as I was getting in the car for school, while removing my heavier jacket, I realized that there was a large highly visible expanse of my torso that I wasn't feeling like sharing with my students. Back inside I went, finding the perfect torso camo: the Duro Olowu top that Jan gave me four years ago. Ahhhh. Outfit zen achieved.
Today's reenactment of outfit:

Umbrella and goofy hat added for current weather conditions.

Linking up with Patti's Visible Monday, Catherine's #iwillwearwhatilike, Shelbee's On the Edge of the Week

#tbt Valentine's 2017

This year, we went wild!

BOGO Fish Tacos Especial from Rubio's, yo.
Cost? Under $10.

Yeah, living large at Walgrove Manor.

Did you do anything special this year? Share!

SpyGirl Shenanigans

Friday.
LOOK! 52 Bloggers on a SCARF!!!!!

Available here on Redbubble. [I get a small commission]

It's VERY VERY large!
It's a nice soft polyester (never thought I'd be saying those words when I was a 100% natural fiber gal in my youth). I haven't put it to a thorough static cling test yet, so far, not too terrible.

Saturday.
Dug out a relic:

Wore it like this:

Opted out of this outerwear:

You can call me Green Riding Hood

Made this plaid from a photo during a class demo:

Met up with Lani in Venice after class at the Charles Garabedian  retrospective at LA Louver.
(We both took classes with Chaz in the 70s at College of Creative Studies at UC Santa Barbara).
Saw this:

Peter Voulkos, Anasazi (Stack S13), 2010, bronze, 75 1/4 x 36 x 38"

And this:

Venice Beach Sunset

Sunday.
I turned into a domestic dervish and made two batches of jam: Rose Petal and Seville Marmalade.

Rose Petal Jam recipe | Seville Orange Marmalade recipe

Mr Lou was not impressed.

I watched a little bit of the Grammys telecast and was able to catch (and sketch) Beyoncé's extravaganza.

Yowza.

Severo arrived home from his gig in Illinois and we were both hungry, so that was it for my Grammy viewing, though we got home in time to catch Adele receiving her fourth and fifth awards. Maybe I'll sketch her today [check my IG to see if I do] -- I decided to take a sick day from work. Too exhausted!

Linking with Patti's Visible Monday, Catherine's #iwillwearwhatilike, Shelbee's On the Edge of the Week

#tbt Valentine's 1997

In 1997, the year we met, Severo pitched some serious woo!

I did this:

He did this:

Our penthouse room with a view.

He decorated!

Dinner in Chinatown

Share some Valentine's love (or regrets) -- or an anti-Valentine!

Crazy Pants Debut at Otis

Did you see my Crazy Pants on Instagram yesterday?

I've had these since 1997 and have never worn them.
Unbelievable, right?
They've been hiding in plain sight in one of my closets for a while.

Scarves on the left, a quasi "repair and sell" assortment on the right, fabric stash in the back.

I "saw" them every day, but didn't see them on me, if you know what I mean.

Yesterday, I tried them on (for the first time -- I kid you not!).

Wowza!
Aside from the abhorrent fiber content (OG 60's nylon tricot) they are GROOVY, man.
That print is going places!

Curious about my lovely pendant?
Since I lost a very important thumb drive (had all my latest course handouts from my Digital Design for Fashion class, not backed up, of course), I attached another one to the polkadot lanyard that Sue made for our Vancouver Blogger meetup.

(Sorry for the "exposed" USB plug. Kids, avert your eyes).

I managed to not leave this one behind in the classroom. At least for this week.

After class, the Crazy Pants went to Whittier to see Stan Ridgway in concert.
But that's another post for another blog.
"Seems like a pretty good idea to me".

Linking up with Patti's Visible Monday, Catherine's #iwillwearwhatilike, and Shelbee's On the Edge of the Week.

TrendListr, a New Online Vintage Marketplace

Originating from the UK, since we don't have "car boot" sales in the US -- is our term "flea market"?

Trendlistr contacted me about helping promote their new online marketplace for Vintage, launching on 2/9/17. It sounds like an interesting concept: sellers held to high standards for items and photography posted, and no upfront listing fee.

Their Instagram @TrendListr will give you the best sense of what's to come:

[source]

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Along with IG, other social media portals are their
Blog: www.trendlistrblog.com

Twitter: @Trendlistr

Facebook: /Trendlistr

They might feature SpyGirl in a blog post and asked me these burning questions:

How would you best describe your stye? 

What do you all think, "Crazy Cat Lady"?

What is current dream item you want to purchase?

Dansko red/black shoes as seen on Poshmark, in not my size:

Who is you're favourite designer/high street store and why?

I always hate this kind of question. I'm a Gemini, THERE CAN'T BE JUST ONE!

Still ruminating on my answer.

Off the top of my head, Chris Francis, (though is he a "designer" or an "artist"?) and Fluevog.

Guess I'm a tad shoe obsessed these days.

Let's reconvene after TrendListr launches and see what we think!

#tbt Hey Valentine, Be Mine

Yep, it's that time of the year again.

[This one predates my birth by 4 months]

These were saved in the Baby Book that my mom kept. She did a great job recording all my "firsts".

Share some Valentine's love (or regrets)!