#SecondHandSeptember Thrifty Friends

It's the last day of #SecondHandSeptember and certainly not the last day of shopping second hand first!
Today, I'm featuring a few thrifty friends who linked up over the month and provided me with quotes.

Amber, of The Hungry Mountaineer:

It just breaks my heart to think of landfills full of discarded Forever 21 leggings and crop tops. Recycled shopping has become a part of my life in the past two years and I will never pay a hundred dollars for trendy jeans from Nordstrom again when I can be a much more sustainable shopper and purchase them gently used from my favorite thrift store. Recycled fashion has changed my life and my closet since I have embraced limiting my carbon footprint.

That's why I brag to everyone I know, "Love this jacket? I bought it second hand at my favorite thrift shop!" Friends tell me my boots are so cute and I tell them "You too can buy awesome boots from the Goodwill and refurbish them at home! It's easy, it's crafty, it's upcycling!" With a bit of effort it's easy to be fashionably cute and help keep this planet just a little bit greener for the next generation.

Amber wrote a great post about ways to be a sustainable hiker.
I highly recommend clicking over there if you hike and/or camp!

Shellbee, of Shelbee On the Edge:

Yes, of course, shopping second hand is a huge one! ... If we donate or sell second hand, we should also be shopping at those places, too. I honestly get a little sick when I think about how much perfectly good clothing ends up just dumped. I saw so much go out of the consignment shop when I worked there, clothes with tags still on. What we couldn’t sell, we would donate to churches and charity shops and when I would drop off there, I was amazed at how much they had back logged that they couldn’t even fit on the sales floor. It really is a sad state of affairs. And there are places in my local community, like the children’s home, that won’t even accept donations. I ran out of places to donate to.

Monica of Señora Allnut:

Shopping second hand is not only good for the environment, it's also good for me, for my budget, for my self expression and creativity!. Actually, I'm being selfish!

And there you have it! One more day to link up your second hand something!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Linking up with
Shelbee's Spread the Kindness

#tbt Themeless Link

Post whatever you want this month, as long as it's something OLD.
I'm too busy working too many blog challenges and going to too many events to think up a themed linkup!
My walk down memory lane...

First blog, first post:

Second blog, second post:

Third blog, third post:

Fourth blog, fourth post:

Fifth blog, fifth post:

Sixth blog, sixth post:

Seventh blog, seventh post:

Enough, already!

Your turn:

Lunch Break Fashion Sketches 1/23-27

Who were my #lunchbreakfashionsketch muses this week?

Mercedes of @COTDstyle

Catherine of Not Dressed As Lamb

Shelbee of @shelbeeontheedge

Amy, who posted her look to the COTDstyle Facebook group
(This is a closed group and well worth joining if you enjoy colorful fun outfits!)

Sonya Ann of @sonyaann

This week was my first full teaching day on Thursday. Happy to say that the "mobile studio" transitioned nicely to the Otis parking garage. I have a four hour gap between classes and my back seat sketching filled some of the time.

Follow me on Instagram @annembray to see the sketches in "real" time (depending upon your IG algorithm). Want to be a muse? I'm always open to requests!

On a side note, I find Tumblr organizes my IGs better than Instagram. My hashtags on Tumbler will go to just my own images instead of all that deploy them. The Tumblr Archive feature is awesome as well.

The Fashion Rainbow Book!

Exciting news -- I made a book with the 52 Fashion Rainbow blogger portraits!

cover

There is a 2 page spread for each of the 52.
Here's is mine:

It is available on Blurb in various formats at this link (yes, I get a commission).
It's an 8 x 5" size, either paper or hardback.
PLUS, Blurb is having a 50% off sale through 11/29 -- use the code BEST50 [not true, alas].
The ebook format didn't seem to upload, so if you have an interest, let me know and I'll wrestle with it.

Speaking of sales, Society6 is having a 20% off with international free shipping (customs duty still applies) through 11/28. I've been working up some customized items as requests come in. Since I'm not teaching on Saturday, I've got more free time than usual, so leave a comment on any post if you want your mug on a mug, notebook, or whatever. This link to Jodie's card or the 52 blogger print will give you a good idea of the various items available. (I get a commission from Society6 sales too).

Fashion Rainbow at TAG Gallery and Society6

You saw the 52 blogger portraits in my back yard.
Here they are hanging in the gallery!

(Sorry, not the best of photos)

Here's my compilation file of everyone:

(click on image to see larger)

See the rainbow?

I want to thank all my muses for your inspiring and colorful outfits!

Not only are the 52 bloggers hung at the gallery, the image above is available on all sorts of items at Society6.
Here's a new product that they print on, an 8 x 6" notebook:

Yes, I will get a small commission from Society6 if you purchase my stuff.

I'm quite pleased with the mug:

Cheers!

Linking up with Shelbee's #SpreadTheKindness linkup.
We could all use a little kindness right now, yes?

Fashion Rainbow Update

Today I had a burst of energy and got some organizing done for my upcoming show.

Here are the 52 Over-40 sketches, shot laid out in the back yard:

They are 6x4" and coated with 3/4" of acrylic.

I'm also half-way through the "wall label" which will have QR codes to everyones blogs.

QR codes are similar to bar codes, yet better -- they link to a URL. With a QR Reader app on your smart device, when you hold your device up to a code, it will jump to a blog. (If you're reading this on a computer, try it!)
When I get it finished, I'll make a downloadable pdf of it.

Be sure to let me know if you're coming to the 40+ Meetup, especially the Friday December 2 event at the gallery.

Fashion Rainbow Sketches

I've been working diligently on new sketches for my exhibition Fashion Rainbow, at TAG Gallery in Santa Monica, CA, November 22 - December 17. I'm happy to say that I got the final set of over-40 fashion/style blogger drawings sent off to the printer last week. I'll be showing the sketches as a grid of 52 acrylic blocks arranged in a color spectrum. Some of the art is from the SpyGirl archives and some is new.

I made an effort to sketch everyone that signed up for the 40+ Blogger Meetup that I've "organized" [term used VERY loosely] for the weekend of December 2-4. More details here.

Jodie, Nancy, and Charlotte can all be found on Jodie's Touch of Style. They can't make it to the meet-up, but they'll be in the exhibition!

Jodie

Nancy

Charlotte

Adding this to Catherine's Saturday Share

Patti on the Digital Catwalk for St. Patti's Day

I'm doing one of those "Post 5 Artworks..." challenges on Facebook [find mine here], and I thought I'd make it more complicated for myself by making blog posts with the art. Each day a different blog. [Yes, I have 5+ blogs. Ack!]
We are at Day 5, which brings us to SpyGirl, the fashion blog that consumes me. The other blogs? I write posts occasionally. SpyGirl has showcased my fashion passions since March 2010. This marks my 863rd post.

Through SpyGirl, I returned to fashion sketching. I'll be showing a rainbow of digital catwalk sketches at TAG Gallery, November 22 - December 17, 2016. The over-40 fashion/style blogging crowd will be featured. There will be a fashion party during the exhibition, and you'll be the first to know the details if you sign up here.

On to some art:

link to inspiration source

Yes, Patti is a saint. She hosts a huge link-up party called Visible Monday on her blog Not Dead Yet Style , and she comments on every blogger that links. That's more than a hundred comments, EVERY WEEK! Amazing.

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

SpyGirl Watches: L.A. Frock Stars -- Golden Age of Hollywood

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Rai Alexandra is my muse from L.A. Frock Stars, Episode 3. There were many many great moments in this episode, including Shelly and Sarah visiting Damon Devine, Yma Sumac's former personal assistant. (Link to video clip).

This week, Rai is the one who lit up the screen for me*. When she emerged from the dressing room in this Christian Dior-inspired pouf dress -- GODDESS ALERT! She absolutely glowed!

(screen grab from L.A. Frock Stars)

New episodes will air on the Smithsonian Channel every Thursday at 9pm.
They are rebroadcasted, check this link, then click on the specific episode for air times.
The same link will also lead you to streams of all six episodes of Season 1 (for now).

Who will I sketch next? Come back next Friday to find out!

I was given access to screeners of all six episodes of Season 2 back in February. 
The above verbiage is all mine.

*I can't sketch Shelly every episode -- or can I?

[added 4/11]

This post was selected for IFB's Links à la Mode, Thursday 4/9 edition.
Check out these other posts sharing the spotlight, including my blogging buddy Suzanne Carillo:

• A Handful of Stories: Shooting Outfit Posts With the Olympus OMD-EM10
• Attire Club: The Men’s Guide to Wearing Pastel Colors
• Bibi Shelter: Jeremy Scott for Adidas Original Fragrance Launch
• Charlotte Lucy: Alexander McQueen/Nick Waplington: Working Process at The Tate
• Flip Flops and Furs: A Benefit for Scotty’s House
• Funky Jungle: 5 Fashion ‘Must Haves’ I Don’t Own
• A Glamorous Revelation: To Write Love on Her Arms
• Jodie’s Touch of Style: Leggings With a Tunic After 50
• Ms. Fabulous: Winners of the 6th Annual Fashion 2.0 Awards
• Prime Butterfly: 5 Magazine Trends That Need to Die in 2015
• Purushu Arie: Celebrating the Spirit of the Seventies
• Riva la Diva: Easy DIY Valentino-Inspired Dress Tutorial
• Ri(t)ch Styles: How to Pick the Right T-Shirt for a Guy
• Sly on the Wall: A Hair Story
• Spy Girl: L.A. Frock Stars—Golden Age of Hollywood
• Storybook Apothecary: Swimwear Looks for Every Style
• Suzanne Carillo: 10 Important Life Lessons I Learned From Watching Mad Men
• That Paki Blog: Illustrating Pakistan Fashion Week by Mahoor Jamal
• TLV Birdie: Watch Your Mouth
• Wear It Fair: Vintage Styles for Work, Rest and Play

SPONSOR: Shopbop Coupons: Theperfext, Katin, and Black Wedges,
Sperry Men’s, French Trotters, Red Heels, Nude wedges, Plaid Dresses,Leather & Lace Dresses

Want to be featured in Links à la Mode?
Read the clarified rules and submit your links on this page: Links à la Mode.

SpyGirl Watches: "Cancer: The Emperor of All Maladies"

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Exactly five years ago I finally went to the doctor about a lump in my right breast that had been growing for about a year. Yes I was in deep denial.

It was breast cancer -- stage IIIc, to be exact.
I had a mastectomy, chemo, and radiation.
I'm sharing this fact so that maybe you won't procrastinate as badly as I did.
[If you want to read about my cancer saga, it's over on a Caring Bridge blog here].
I'm fully recovered, by the way. Team Bray for the win!

There has been much more open discussion of cancer of late. I think that's beneficial to all that get touched by this disease, whether it's as the one with the malady or as that person's caretaker and/or loved one. Wendy Brandes wrote an excellent post here regarding Angela Jolie's cancer decisions, I highly suggest reading it.

PBS is airing a three part documentary based on the book by Siddhartha Mukherjee.
I enjoyed the book very much and I'm looking forward to seeing the documentary.
There was a great review of it in the Sunday LA Times here.

"Cancer: The Emperor of All Maladies" will be airing 9pm Monday 3/30 - Wednesday 4/1 (six hours over three nights). Check your local listing.

52 Pick-me-up: International Women's Day, Week

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So what could be a better way to celebrate International Women's Day (today, March 8) than booking my room in Vancouver, BC for a blogger meet-up this summer?

Our hostess Suzanne Carillo is putting together a meet-up of INTERNATIONAL SUPERSTARS!
I will finally meet some of my muses (Melanie, Sue, Trina, Tami, Sheila, Pat, Ally, Charlotte -- I'm looking at you) and reconvene with Patti, Bella, Val, and Natalia. (Bella and Val -- would it help you decide if you had a ride up there? I might just drive it! I promise to refrain from taking photos while driving if you are passengers).

Here is the list so far (lifted from Suzanne's page):

Melanie – Bag and a Beret 
Sue – A Colourful Canvas
Patti – Not Dead Yet
Sylvia – 40+Style
Bella – The Citizen Rosebud (t)
Greetje – No Fear of Fashion
Trina – Tea Time With Trina
Dawn – Fashion Should Be Fun
Tami – Thrift Shop Commando
Sheila – Ephemera
Pat – Project Minima 
Natalia – In The Writer’s Closet
Val – Muse Fondue (t)
Ally – Shybiker
Lana – Two Teens and Their Mama
Jennifer – A Well Styled Life
Charlotte – Sublime Mercies
Mrs. C – Mrs. Jack of all Trades (t)
Louisa – Damselfly’s Delights
Gaylen – G Marie
Anne – Spy Girl
Shawna – The Director Of Awesome
Tiina -Elegance Revisited
Jodi – Day 2 Day Wear

Oh the fun we shall have!

In lieu of lots of gifts (but how can we resist???) we will be doing a clothing swap.
Since I'm half-heartedly culling my closet, I've already pulled some potential gems:

[Late add]
The meeting of SpyGirl and Citizen Rosebud, May 20, 2014:

We got the Pattern Max memo

It's a Visible Monday week chez Patti, you'll see me there!

Have anything special in mind for celebrating Int'l Women's Day/ Week/ Month?

Link and tell!

Digital Catwalk: Natalia Wears Red Red Wine

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Natalia of In the Writer's Closet

Digital Catwalk: Glenda Wears the 20s

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Glenda of So What to 20!

52 Pick-me-up: Dress Like a Libation

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Here is this week's 52 Pick-me-up directive: Dress like your favorite cocktail.

Can you guess mine?

Hint:

photo by Sarah of Call Me Fudge

I'm a (virgin) Tequila Sunrise!
This was my drink of choice when I was going out to see LA pop shows in the 90s.
That is, if I bothered to pay for a beverage. Usually I didn't drink anything, so that I could avoid nasty rest rooms.

Here's Call Me Fudge's Tequila Sunrise recipe:

TEQUILA SUNRISE
(makes 1 drink)

2 oz. tequila
4 oz. orange juice
3/4 oz. grenadine

1.  Fill a high ball glass with ice.  Pour in tequila and orange juice.

2.  Slowly pour in grenadine and allow it to separate and settle at the bottom.

3.  Stir before sipping!

I found Sarah's site through a Google Image search. What a fun blog!

OK, put down that drink, link, and tell!

Dress like your favorite cocktail

Dress like your favorite cocktail

An InLinkz Link-up

52 Pick-me-up: Roaring 20s

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Once again, I face my closet with a retro quandry. I couldn't even find my sketches of 20's costumes that I did back in college (I'll keep looking for those. Now I have a mission). (Can't even find the post with a picture of one. This is getting ridiculous!)

From the archives is this:

originally seen here, July 2012

I refurbished that green/navy striped tunic the summer of 2012. I wear it at least once every two weeks. For yardage purchased for under $4, an excellent cost-to-wear ratio!

In the above-linked post, I'd promised directions on how to make the jacket. I made it from sari fabric, and it was created from two rectangles. I got the pattern from a Laurie Herrick hand woven coat that I saw at the Portland Museum of Contemporary Craft.

originally seen here, June 2011

I never followed through on that. Oops. Will rectify... sometime.

As a final flourish, here's a page from a 1920's Montgomery Ward catalog:

source: Dover

The above immediately brings to mind Ms Desiree, of Pull Your Socks Up. Click on over there and you'll see what I mean.
But before you go, how are you doing finding some 1920s in your closet? Link and tell!

An InLinkz Link-up

Digital Catwalk: Connie Wears Short Over Long

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Connie of Snow in the Air

Digital Catwalk: Maricel Matches Her Scarf

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Maricel of My Closet Catalogue

Digital Catwalk: Jan Wore Black in October

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Jan of Fort Smith Stylista

Doing a bit of catch-up here -- couldn't cope with colors or 10s this morning.
AAARGH! Now I'm TWO WEEKS BEHIND!
I need to go on retreat or something...

Peaches on the Digital Catwalk and Shining Stars

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Shining Star, by Earth, Wind & Fire, came up on my iPod the other day, during my morning commute. After replaying it about five times (or maybe more -- it got me from the 405 @ LAX to the 605 x 60), I thought about the SHINY 52 Pick-me-up sketch still in need of completion. I was also listening carefully to the lyrics (see below) and thought about all the Shining Stars in my universe.
Then I arrived at the day job, got slammed with a load of work, and was "forced" off the internet for days.
"What? You want me to WORK at work????"

Anyway.

Meet Peaches, the Queen of Diamonds!

Peaches of Peaches McGinty

I have SO many sketches in need of coloring. And instead, I'm in the midst of completing my Sketchbook Project 2014, which changed course and is now of maps of all my US road trips. That's due postmarked 1/15. Why do I always do this to myself? Ah well, pedal to the metal.

Wanted you all to know you're my shining stars!



Lyrics:

Yeah, hey
When you wish upon a star
Dreams will take you very far, yeah
When you wish upon a dream
Life ain't always what it seems, oh yeah
Once you see your light so clear
In the sky so very dear

You're a shining star, no matter who you are
Shining bright to see what you can truly be
That you can truly be

Shining star come into view
Shine is watchful light on you, yeah
Gives you strength to carry on
Make your body big and strong
Future roads for you to pass
Love to watch your mug past

The shining star, lucky you
The sinful redeeming shall be true
On an adventure of the sun, yeah
Yeah it's all awake and just begun
Yeah, thought I had to stir the mood
That's it now I got my own oh yeah

So if you find yourself in need
Why don't you listen to his words of heat
Be a child free of sin
Be some place, yes I can
Words of Wisdom: Yes I can

You're a shinig star, no matter who you are
Shining bright to see what you can truly be
You're a shinig star, no matter who you are
Shining bright to see what you can truly be

Shining star for you to see, what your life can truly be
Shining star for you to see, what your life can truly be
Shining star for you to see, what your life can truly be

[source: above YouTube video]