Showing posts with label ridiculous. Show all posts

I'm sick in bed today with a dry-cold... everything is sore and swollen, congested and icky. However, this makes me feel better:

*SMILE*

TotusMel, an Etsy friend of which I own a few beautiful tattings, is wearing her RockLove Wrist Wrap in her online listings. She's so sweet :)

*cough cough* back to bed with me now...

Trying that again...

Well why not, I want to blog about my current fashion (faux pas?) obsession.

You already know that fierce stilettos make me go gaga and playsuits are the way of the future... but if you have never met me in person, you might not know my penchant for eyeshadow. I'm one of those people that never understood the "day" and "night" makeup rule.

As a gal with rather bulbous eyes (visualize a praying mantis) and a goth/rocker to boot, my peepers are the highlight of my face. Lately I've been into applying bright shadow all around my eye, including underneath and the bridge of my nose. Feathered and blended, I prefer one or two matching colors (pink and coral, orange and umber) rather than the clashing hipster thing, but extend it all the way out to my brow line. Afterward, I use liner (sometimes black shadow to keep the blended smokey look) and mascara to really pop the black against bright.

Currently I've been using a Chanel Quadra in Spice, along with some Cargo (wonderful Canadian line). But I have a few cheap Maybelline sets too that work just fine. If you have an Etsy seller to recommend who makes mineral shadow you love, I'm all ears!

In order to combat my Eastern European unibrow and to better match my vibrantly red hair (from a Feria box) - I shadow in my eyebrows. Rather meticulous about them, lest I look like I'm carrying my pet catipillar, I use a lip liner brush to blend in over the top a powdered auburn. The affect is a bit pin-up and cartoonesque, which is perfect for my personality since I gesticulate and make unintentional silly faces as I converse.

That's the latest - I actually got stopped in the street this week for a fashion blog, so I'll post that video as soon as I know it.

I've been Jet Setting again and neglecting my blog again...


Just got back from another long week in LA; first for Ink-N-Iron 2009 and then additional days of network-partying, photoshoots, and other glamorous exhausting events. Not a day went by that I was in bed before at LEAST 3am, if not quite a few nights of 5:30 in the wee hours of the morn! New Yorkers, when we meet we are on time, grab a coffee, a dinner, whatever. But in Hollywood you have to go for drinks, go shopping, meet at a photoshoot, continue to a club... and always an hour or two after the official designated time "IN CASE OF TRAFFIC."


Now I'm sad to say that many people missed the lovely banner Chris made for the front of my website... upon my return to the city I am about 100 orders behind with more flowing in steadily (some of which are the tail end of the Repo Scalpel Necklaces). Ackkk, WHEN will I be able to afford a slew of clones to help me manage this increasing workload?

Ink-N-Iron was a blast, working with Emily Postula, my colleague who owns the store Torch Song Metals in upstate Nyack. I brought her along to sell her own work and help assist me with our collaborative line (which will soon be on the site). We also adjoined our 10 foot booth to the Pin Up Angels, whom RockLove has sponsored for about two years now. This was my second Ink-N-Iron with the ladies, but the first time in which I had my own real vending space. Quite nervous, Em and I had no idea how much merchandise to make or what to expect!


Friday through Sunday our booth was open until 10pm at night (mandatory), and then afterward I would party on the ship with the tattoo artists/vendors, check out the burlesque shows, join on the dance floor... pushing myself to experience everything the show had to offer. I'm glad I did - made some amazing new friends in psychobilly bands: The Creepshow, Koffin Kats, and the HorrorPops.

Other exciting connections and potential upcoming photos include: Tattoo Magazine, Tattoo Life, Rebel Rodz, Inked Magazine, and more... my personal favorite being Maxim Magazine. I've been a Maxim reader for damn near a decade, plus their very sweet stylist and photographer loved my work. I can't wait for the day I go into the bathroom, pull out my trusty subscription, and play "Where's Waldo" with RockLove jewelry.

Not only did I get to see all my favorite Angels, but I revisited and made new friends with the scene's photographers. Here is Susana of Vestige with her stylist Christina, plus Cathy of Through My Eyes Photography, Roy Varga, Jorge of JMVfoto, etc...

In fact, later that week after the show, Jorge shot ME as the model:

Stayed at my girl, Black Grace's house - she and her roommate Josie took me to all the LA hotspots and in turn I took them to my meetings/parties. Venice Beach, Swingers in Santa Monica, The Cactus for midnight tacos, The Rainbow for 80's rockstars, Cat and the Fiddle... and Grace took me to see where she grew up in 29 Palms.

I'm such a city dork, I took a MILLION photos of the desert! I've never been to a place where people rake their backyard... and it's just DIRT. Dumbfounded by the windmills, I felt like Don Quixote!

I had a wonderful time this round in LA and met some great new friends. Emma, a Hollywood stylist, is one of my new favorite people (besides Grace, whom I got to know much better, which was lovely)... Emma not only helped me out both Saturday and Sunday at Ink-N-Iron, but she introduced me to my new headband wearing obsession, making by hand for me my little growing collection.

Another reason Emma is so cool (besides passing as my older sister and owning at least half the same brain)... check out the tat she got while at the convention! Recognize the clockwork? My second RockLove tat, and first real self-branded design.


Off to bed now - this week will be a frantic game of catch up as I regain my footing and prep for some huge future press!

Time for a relatively useless blog...

Despite being intimately involved in the rocker fashion scene, I rarely discuss style external of jewelry inspiration. But this weekend, after spending about $300 on, well, only 3 items, I feel it is time to revel in the emergence of 1950's meets 1980's glam in popular edge culture.

TOPSHOP is one of my favorite stores, introduced to me by my dear English darling, Jess. An exclusively UK brand until just about a month ago, the first US store opened in the East Village, Manhattan. Not only did I about piddle myself, surrounded by everything rocker, hipster, UK fashion, and new wave... all the best things when done well and in moderation... but it was the silhouette inspiration that astounded me the most. Let me correct myself. Hipster MENTALITY is not good... but when borrowed and tweaked with your own personal flair, the FASHION movement can be positive.

RE: this does NOT MEAN DAY-GLO. Fuck you day-glo. Neon orange and yellow is my kryptonite.

However, I did leave with this delicious Kate Moss grey on pewter playsuit which will be perfect for Ink-N-Iron. As we all know, I adore pin up but have to make whatever I wear a bit more rock-chic... and I don't do color. Contrastingly, a playsuit was a women's one piece from the 50's which was used as an all-around rompy fun outfit for beach side, pool side, outdoors, picnics, etc. Typically they are brightly colored floral patterns, embodying the flirty and feminine innocence of the era. Love the look but I can't find anything to match my skin tone and personality so until now I've just had to appreciate from afar.

Suddenly this cut is coming back in style (you watch!) - a very tantalizing grope under the table from 5 decades past. Pencil skirts and victory curls are not a far cry from our generation's current aesthetics, but little shortie one-pieces is a ballsy high-fashion step back in time!

I pray to all dieties that no one makes a neon playsuit. JUST SAY NO TO DAY GLO!

And God help me... THE SHOES!!!

This week required an emergency trip to Philadelphia to shoot with my favorite photographer and hero, Philip Warner (aka Lithium Picnic), who happened to be in town briefly for Catwalk Tragedy. Not only was the experience thrilling, it was also severely humbling - modeling is MUCH MORE DIFFICULT than most people accredit. Granted I will always be my toughest critic, but I feel that though I can make dynamic physical shapes, my face looks like I'm either sneering or bored.

Photos to come as soon as possible!!!

Today was especially exciting... Chris and I teamed up for an extensive freelance collaboration with charismatic John Luisi, running for Staten Island Boro President. His website goes live Wednesday with his announcement of administration. With Chris video recording on his Canon XL2 (including body miking) and me taking stills on the Olympus E-volt SLR, we made quite the professional crew. The three of us visited about half a dozen locations around the island, filming statements about various issues and interviewing frustrated citizens about the current stagnation in structural and environmental progress.

Got stranded a bit at the 161 Firehouse, in which I impressed the guys by sliding down the fire pole, then climbing my way all the way back up two stories before sliding down again.

This project with John has really fired me up - Staten Island has such potential but the current legislation is offensively lining their pockets and ignoring even the most obvious community priorities. In addition to photography (and Chris editing their videos) I am going to be acting as a internet marketing consultant to Mr. Luisi, helping him better spread his message not just locally but GLOBALLY with the web.

My ass has officially adhered to a Virgin American airline seat. This April I managed South Beach, NYC, Vegas, NYC, LA, NYC, upstate, NYC... and now this week I may have to make an emergency run to Philly for a impromptu photo shoot with my hero, Philip Warner (Lithium Picnic).

RULE: If you are going to be flying transcontinental twice a week... splurge for the fancy plane. And be sure to apply for frequent flyer miles before you start traveling.

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekender was a blast! Check out the MySpace Photo Album for pictures of me and my crew, the Pin Up Angels (who I had the honor to sponsor at the event). Partying for a grand five days at The Orleans hotel and casino, I only vended one day to test the (very pricey) waters. Despite being in the desert, it managed to sprinkle a little rain on the outdoor Vintage Car Show, but in the end it was definitely worth it - RockLove will absolutely have a booth annually at Viva!

RULE: When going to Vegas for a week, expect to loose at least 4 years of your life to second hand cigarette smoke. Everyone smokes EVERYWHERE, be it in your "non smoking" room, the restaurants, the casino floor, the pubs, even the bathrooms. Wash all your clothing twice upon return to the real world.

RULE: Free drinks while gambling also decrease life span but make up for the fact that your hair perpetually smells like an ashtray. I started with $20, left with $10, but got about $100 of free drinks out of it.

The very generous Spooky Dan and Tammy allowed me to crash at their place in Los Angeles as I sponsored the Fangoria Horror Show. Despite the event not having the turn out I expected, I had a blast running with their group of friends... Enjoyed the VIP red carpet movie premier of 'Laid to Rest' along with the posh afterparty, and great nights of hot tubbing while projecting 90's horror flicks on the wall. Whereas I don't plan to vend Fangoria in the future (it's just a bit too small and not quite the right niche), I have been convinced finally to do San Diego and NYC's Comic Cons next year. Too bad I'll miss SD's in July... but if I plan any more plane flights, I think the boyfriend is going to kill me! I've got LA again in June for Ink-N-Iron!

My personal favorite photo from Fango Con - With Bill Shafer, the owner of Hyaena Gallery in Burbank, and a 1496 Albrecht Dürer. Yes I geeked, and since no one else seemed to apprecaite the rarity of this work, my Christian Medieval Art degree came out and I started giving history lessons to anyone who would listen.

The Springfest in upstate Nyack was a success despite being about 100 degree weather. Granted now that I'm back in town, there is forecasted rain for the next week.

RULE: If you are going to live like a rockstar, make sure you don't have a real job, because otherwise you have a million orders and about 200 customer emails that need attending when you return home. Not to mention laundry, housecleaning, and bills to pay.

Back to work for me - check out the website, I'm in the process of posting new collaborative pieces with my partners TORCH SONG METALS and JUNGLE TRIBE. So far I've added leather cuffs and stud earrings. Thank goodness I'll be home for the month, I have a lot of new pieces to finish and release! Great to be back!

Back from Vegas! The Rockabilly Weekender was amazing, and as pictures roll in, I will post an album, but what far outweighed my trip was the return.

Tired, hungry, motion sick, and hoarse from the immense amounts of Vegas second hand smoke, Chris picks me up from the airport and is unnervingly quiet. No kisses, no hugs, no real conversation the whole way home. I'm feeling nauseous for two reasons now until we walk into the door and I find this:

My photos don't even do justice to the detail and posh contemporary vibe of our new living room - the side tables are black wood and glass with secret drawers, matching our black walls with white molding accents. The side lamps are on timers and dimmers, the coffee table opens on both sides to contain the DVD collection and other knickknacks. Pictures are framed of the two of us and our dog Adara as a puppy... candles (matching burgundy) are lit and the room glows. Even the switch plates are new detailed metal, everything in our favorite colors of black, red, silver, and gold. On the far side is our mounted flat screen TV, which has triple mood lighting above, is my favorite creation:

White bulb lamps (he even put energy savers in for me), contained in black bird cages (which we already had and couldn't think what to do with)... he then decorated them with these crystal bead wire things I used in part of an old costume back in college, and accented by little poppy silk flowers. How the HELL did he come up with something like this, I have no idea, but that boy could get a job interior designing!

I didn't count, but I think I burst into tears at least three times... I can't wait to have everyone come over and enjoy our new space! Everyone thinks they have the best boyfriend/husband, but sorry ladies. MINE JUST PROVED IT! Thank you Chris, I love you mostest!

Finally! The full steampunk costume contest video from Wicked Faire! Obviously I'm the belly dancer who impromptu hammed it up...

*facepalm*

On top of Wicked Con, then moving apartments (the studio is looking awesome)... it's the most feared time of year...

TAX SEASON!!!

I'm sitting at my desk surrounded by about a half dozen piles of sorted receipts along with another mountain of unreviewed pages behind me. Not to mention all those online invoices for materials, travel, server/site/PayPal bills, Etsy payments, costuming, order confirmations...

Anyone want to hide along with me under the bed and hope the government isn't interested in our businesses? I've got a box of cookies and some JuJu fish...

For fun, here's a glimpse of my first run through the Wicked Steampunk Costume Contest. For the initial screening we were supposed to walk, pose, and move off - however the audio tech had the hots for me and instead cued some Juno Reactor. Ever the exhibitionist, I shook my money maker. You miss the beginning however; to get to the ground I actually slid into the splits. Like a bawssss :P

I know I've been MIA for the thousandth time - but I swear to good reason. Not only was I out for Wicked Faire, but this past week and weekend I have up and MOVED again. This would be apartment number 4 in 2.5 years... number 6 since I started dating Chris.

After no sleep at the Con I came home to 250 Repo Scalpel orders, an unpacked apartment, and a rapidly approaching moving day. We managed it all, though technically Fios has yet to hook up our internet and cable, nor do we have any furniture beyond my studio and the kitchen. Thankfully, Chris ran out and got for me a wi-fi USB so I can at least access my administrative site and PayPal to ship out the jewelry!

The Con was amazing, despite being T-boned in Maggie's car by a drunk driver the night before in Philly... Tori (the other Gentern) and I were almost taken out; so much so that we couldn't even get out of that side of the vehicle, the doors were crunched in. The rest of the cast was amazing, the lighting and stage were shockingly professional, and the crowd was more enthusiastic than any I've seen on Road Tour! Tons more about that, but you can find plenty of pictures here:

Wicked Faire Flickr Pool

I did a bit of Steampunk Belly Dance, posed for many a photo, and won second place in the costume contest. I guess it's not too appropriate to have the gyrating half naked contestant take the grand prize... ah well. I gave my second place gift to the third place "Roller Up" - a beautiful woman on old fashioned steamy roller skates.

Some incredible dancing in the evenings, a friend and fellow cast member says he got video of me having an impromptu industrial dance battle with this other guy. Here's hoping - I think you'll be impressed.

Back to unpacking and jewelry shipping - I will post more about Wicked, the amazing new friends, and videos from the stage asap!

I love living in New York City - magical things can happen both when you A) open your mouth when you shouldn't and B) sit quietly and listen when you don't have the time.

Today I had a few business meetings in Manhattan, starting downtown and working my way up. Rising early to finish shipping out 30 more Repo Scalpel Necklaces at the post, my first stop is Union Square. Meeting in Barnes & Noble to pick up the latest Gothic Beauty Magazine (in which Repo, Dances of Vice, and my Clockwork Earrings are all featured), I hand off some stuff to Bianca, a fellow shadow cast member for this weekend's Wicked Faire.

Then onto Herald Square, in which I am hand delivering a custom Lust Chain and Medallion Necklace to a customer; for his very lucky girlfriend's birthday. Graciously he buys me a frappuccino before returning to work in the Empire State Building. Me and my loud mouth, I notice a man and his friend waiting for java behind me - one is stunningly dressed in a burgundy buttoned shirt, black vest, tucked tie accented by a cameo pin - I am impressed by his gothic aristocratic flair. Additionally offset by a pocket watch and layers of heavy silver chain bracelets, I have to compliment him on how fabulous he looks. "Steampunk" is one of the first words out of his mouth and before I know it, introductions are made and I am invited to enjoy my coffee at their table (at which there was a black top hat with small animal skull - vole? - waiting with their overcoats).

The man happens to be Steward Noack - the very steampunk photographer and engineer who is pictured on my website and myspace! The previous MTV Steampunk feature pauses on him and his monocle contraption when not playing...

He also is a fan of Repo, attends Dances of Vice, and runs in the same circle... as I listen to the sounds of the world shrinking, I then find out that the other man is even more familiar.

Steven Ellis is an award-winning fantasy illustrator and comics creator with such work as Magic Cards, Vampire Masquerade, World of Warcraft, High Moon... in fact, I'm pretty sure that as I look at my bookshelf, I have his work in numerous volumes. Secretly geeking out (or not so surreptitious after he stumbles upon my blog) he grants me a collage print copy and signs it.

After realizing at least an hour has gone by discussing steamy culture, Fangoria, business, future projects, and watching my favorite Steampunk Duel Video on YouTube, Steward goes back to work and Steve and I depart for the subway. As he and I part ways I recognize the violinist playing on the platform... Julliard trained James Graseck.

James and I have spoken before when I've either see him in Herald Square's subway or the Ferry Station of Staten Island... today he remembers me, my violinist to fashion designer career, and plays my beloved Monti Csardas and Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade. I sit for an hour on the R/W track enjoying his exceptional technique, enthusiastic conversation, and a cordial attitude to listeners you don't often witness on the streets of Manhattan. Then, much to my surprise, an entire 5 person camera crew descends upon him - behold, he is being interviewed and filmed for a German TV show (see his website, he is quite acclaimed). I too am recorded as he and I chat about baroque and Paganini, before finally I jump onto a train after an hour and a half underground.

Now home and at my jewelry bench, I reflect upon the amazing opportunities and people we often neglect while forging through the daily grind. Today I am inspired by comic art, victorian fashion, classical music, and the openness of human spirit when like minds meet.

Chris and I just returned from a great night of drinks and burgers with two of my friends, Nate and Jen, with whom I lived in Italy. The evening was full of laughter and reminiscing until we agreed to escort Nate to an ex-roommate's party - someone he lived with freshman year at Brown.

This was epically bad - the worst party I have ever been to. So terrible, in fact, that Chris and I felt the urge to sit here at 2am (yes, we had to escape before midnight) and BLOG about the traumatic experience.

We walk in to terrible music; a compilation of bad rap, emo, and miscellaneous non-hit wonders from the 80's. I am more than happy to enjoy those fabulous tunes from 25 years ago, but these didn't even grace the top 50's charts.

Swarming through the sea of Ivy-league graduates, I grab some beers for my krew, quickly burning bridges by uttering a snobbish faux pas. The booze choices are Budweiser bottles or Bud Light cans. I ask "does anyone have the bottle opener?" to which a few people give me unfriendly looks saying "it's domestic - it's a twist off."

"Oh. Thank you."
"Yah sorry, we're not as classy here."

Cue me slinking off with my shitty beer back to the comforting embrace of my equally appalled friends. We then survey the room to find these additional horrors:

- The kids weren't even hipsters, despite being in the East Village. Even that would have been a welcomed semblance of something recognizable.
- One guy is wearing brown leather loafers, no socks, pink denim shorts, and a red plaid shirt. Really?!
- A veritable plethora of sweater vests, polos, and button down shirts. Not even paired with khakis, one guy had white pants with vertical blue stripes.
- 7 of the girls (yes I counted) were wearing scarves indoors despite the unseasonably warm weather and indoor heat. At least 1 of them was a keffiyeh.
- The guys were all getting out their blackberrys to compare and discuss if they removed that protective clear vinyl off the screen. Obviously this means they are new to the phones, so they still think it means they are higher in the social pecking order. To this, Chris and I pull out our original iPhones and roll eyes.
- Three quarters of the girls were wearing ballet flat slippers, with two wearing the exact same pair of silver metallic pointy-toed flats.
- To match her shiny shoes, one of said girls (who was on the heavier side) was wearing a pair of blue metallic spandex leggings and a short top that did not cover her voluminous lamee ass. American Apparel "Night Fever Navy" in case you are interested.

There was one chick who looked pretty cool... turned out she was visiting from France. The rest of the girls were sitting all together a la high school dance on one side of the room while the guys spouted things like "still working on my PhD" and "so are you in for Ireland this year" in little circles around the apartment.

American-brewed beers were quickly consumed - Chris and I retreated for the door despite the free booze and obviously riveting conversation this soiree had to offer.

HOWEVER: The saving grace of the evening was this hilarious website forwarded to me by my Jewish mother... My favorite is "Health Care."

Old Jews Telling Jokes

Adara, my 75lb long-haired German Shepherd just turned two years old this Christmas.

A winter dog at heart, her favorite snowy pastimes are catching snowballs and licking the ice off the ground. This picture, captured this morning, is worth a lot more than 1000 words...

(do yourself a favor - click on the image for a closer look so you can fully appreciate the freakishness of this shot!)