The Moldy Doily

Sprinkler Heat-

Hey kids-according to Al Gore- we are all gonna start melting to the core. Hey that rhymed. Anyway...summer in Echo Park usually means my penthouse apartment with two fans, sewing on top of frozen bags of peas and lounging in my underwear with a bananrama head scarf. Not as pretty a picture as you may think. I decided to blog all the lovely things I've missed so far on ebay to combat this heat. Feel free to buy me a box of creampops and a bag of crushed ice for snow cones.

Hope you get some summer breeze blowing through that jasmine in your mind.
I wish I would've won those red wicker clogs. Imagine the air through the toes on those!
anyway. Does anyone have either A) a slip and slide
B) a sprinkler with a clown hat that pops up with water?

someone online wrote this review on the ol blast from the past clown sprinkler:

I recently read there was a recall in the early 80's due to kids losing their eyes looking into the jet of water. Now if I ever see someone in their thirties with an eye patch, I'm gonna assume they were one of those stupid kids. Heck, that clown hat gave me more than one contusion, and that was usually when I knew it was time to shut it down and go take a nap.

the Permanent Marker Wizard

I was excited to discover the hand drawn world of Jordan Mattos online today. This young artist uses the plain white t-shirt as a canvas for his cinema inspired daydreams. His first piece was inspired by checking out a Fassbinder film forum. His illustrations are all original and created like a collage overlapping the entire piece. He incorporates text and images with passionate force- and has been commisioned to make some of them as well. The film narratives are composed to cover ever blank space it seems and since most of the ones on his site range around $150- that's
not bad for an original work of art?

The Legend of Billy Blin is a magical children’s story Jordan wrote and illustrated. There are more great images and descriptions of his things at his site : www.jordanmattos.com

Another Reason to LOVE Top Shop

I was almost brought to tears today when I tuned in to the latest contribution to TOP SHOP in the U.K. I have always loved the textile designs of Celia Birtwell. She has a genius free spirited approach to fabric design and a whimsy like no one else. Whenever I think of the Ossie Clark I had to pawn to pay the rent I cringe. Style.com is featuring one of her new dresses from Top Shop at the moment online:

Now you can get her hippie chic prints without having to forfeit your rent. The U.K. High Street chain of Top Shop has enlisted Birtwell "to create a small collection of new dresses adorned with her signature flora and fauna", which means you can pretend to be the girlfriend of a rock star by mid summer.
The website takes you on a mini movie journey of Birtwells creations and plays a sweet sad tune while flashes of grainy fashion images pass by. The site is perfect for Ossie Clark/ Celia Birtwell fans. I'm a fan of the new Lapis Lazuli dress and the Mystic Daisy Blouse.

available by mid-June at Opening Ceremony, NYC, (212) 219-2688. For information see www.topshop.co.uk.

Celia was a muse of David Hockney--he painted her portrait numerous times--

this watercolor from 2002- found at annelyjudefineart.co.uk

the following lovely Celia print dresses can be bought at: www.c20vintagefashion.co.uk/newgallery

this one is like my dream color scheme

I loved reading this in the Ossie Clark book by Judith Watt:
"I would present my collection of fabrics on his table in the studio and he would start making extraordinary clothes. And usually the better ones came out at the very end, like a day before the show. His best work would emerge towards a deadline." --celia birtwell

So for all those people who like to poke fun and call me "last minute buzzelli" waiting til the deadline sometimes has a happy ending.
DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND CHECK THIS OUT : www.celiabirtwellfortopshop.com

you're not gonna believe this one...

Seriously- someone stole my cell phone from the H & M Superstore. Ok maybe I misplaced it in the bins of tights and footie sox- or maybe the loud PINK music distracted me and I dropped into someone elses bag. All I'm saying is one minute I was on the phone and four steps furthur it was gone.
Those people at H & M are not very helpful- or pleasant.
I guess I really am a loser.
literally.

If anyone out there has a purse designed with bungee cords connecting everything to that bag-please call me on my home phone.
thanks-
It's been that kind of week- and I'm about to board a plane tommorrow.
Hopefully someone will lose my luggage and give me a suitcase full of cash instead.

Oh Biba

While here in NYC I forgot to mention that my friend Sarah was walking around the party last night in these dream shoes. I know I dream a lot about fashion finds- but seriously- these are like a work of art. the photo doesn't even do them justice.
In real life they are sort of antique looking- faded rich flowers cut out all small and delicate around the edges. Like they were dipped in tea and made of porcelean. They are sold out- go figure and cost about as much as my rent. I am staying next door to Angela McCluskey while here in NYC and she told me all about her early singing days when her group was styled by BIBA's Barbara Hulanicki. She still has all the photos-with the exaggerated eye makeup in little photo albums! To die for. Biba was such a way of life. Supposedly the shop was dark, like a discotheque with a hi-fi music system. There were screens and art deco styled fixtures covered in feathered things and dazzling prints. The floors had lots of potted plants. The cool thing about BIBA back then was that it was made to be affordable to the trendy youth. People could buy a lot of loot for great prices. Oh if that were only still true today--perhaps I'd be exploring the city in my new platforms.

Screaming Teaser--

Ok- keep in mind I have no camera--still.
In a new and exciting city with no way to record things. it's killing me.
I went walking all day long- ended up halfway in the projects and then lost in a world of exciting clothes.
I have no way to show you the things that I saw- and in some way the memory of them is better.
I figure no picture could have captured the experience anyway.
But here is the rundown:
1. Fleet week- Sailors in town everywhere in Little Italy in uniforms- while the Italian FEAST street festival is going on Mulberry. Buckets of bobbing ducks and colorful street banners.

2. Lost in Chinatown- streets lined with fishheads and bustling crowds
3. the most dazzling gypsy clothes where Katzy (Katherine) works-hoards of painted chiffon
Zandra Rhodes- 20's frocks and peasant floating headbands.
4. Faded graffitti posted signs peeling in the heat- mickey mouse defaced.
5. Katz Deli and the french restaurant nearby that greg and I ate at where the giant cockroach took his
leg of lamb-

I am back at the apartment and about to venture back to the street for more adventure. I am meeting up with my friend Lauri who I have known since the second grade. She and I went to St. Rita's catholic school- (or as the public school kids said-- St. Retards)
She is a power ad executive who travels and enjoys a nice NYC life.
Here are some teaser pics from last night-
Which by the way---was AMAZING!!
Seriously it went so well- All the ladies were wearing the little Show Pony Babydoll dresses
with multiple headbands and belts and frou frou.
They are the cutest staff ever.
The store reminded me of a 60's acid candy store-willywonka style. All the kids of NYC are so
fashionable and dolled up in miniumpers and layered dresses. I ran into all kinds of old friends- even Scott from Ohio who used to work at Magnolia Thunderpussy (love that store title)
The D.J (who I still have to get my pictures back of--) was the best! She was spinning crazy JApan POP and french new wave. She was wearing a kimono dress and one of my doily beaded headbands which I found out she later bought. I sold almost all of them and some pillows and dresses too!
Later Laura took the entire staff out for food-- it was all a fab dream.
there are more pictures still yet to come folks- we have the Heatherette Boys all luxurious and the dancing girls.
keep in touch to see the WINDOW display

Kim from PAPER mag and the lovely staff of SCREAMING MIMIs in Show Pony

this is GABBY- the darling doll who passed out the lollipops at the door-

emily ryan shot these luscious jujubee shots

emily and me- she looks like a fabulous spy- me a pie face. this is an hour before I spilled an entire glass of champagne in her bag-

this is my sweet pal Katzy (katherine) she and I did not plan our crazy loud colorful dresses

this is C.C. from PAper on left and Blair "We are going to take over the World together" in her hot pink eyeshadow

i sold a gaggle of sparkly headresses

Nicolette in her happy headband

this is me and the hottest girl at the party. Emily and I decided she looked exactly like Marie from DAISIES right? I mean she should be cloned and made into a doll

me with Amy Chan and the owner of Screaming Mimis Laura

There are lots more pictures...stay tuned. most of these are taken by Miss Ryan

NYC---I'm here

Ok- it was only a matter of time before my camera would be left on an airplane floor right? As Greg said- it's a miracle that thing had as long a run as it did. In the meantime I feel like I have cut off an arm or made my brain cloudy. You see- if I don't photograph things- it is practically like I don't really experience things. I need it back folks. I will die of a broken heart. I have no way to record the things I've made- photograph the things I love, desire or dream about.
If anyone has a charity fund for camera replacement- please donate to me now.
The times are grim here in the big apple without it.
If you happen to be here in the City- NYC that is- please attend this thing- I promise to deliver the goods.
If I only downloaded the exciting things I've made beforehand I could show you.
Til later- I'm on suicide watch.

here's the lovely owner Laura on the right.

I promise to take new pictures of the event-when I steal a camera--- stay tuned.

Oh you Pretty Beaded things!

Haven't been sleeping for day and days. It's no wonder the sick thing has clinged to me so long.
I have been waking up between 5 and 7 a.m. everyday. That's called carpe diem in most circles. Today Cynthia picked me up around 8 a.m. We did more craft exploring before 10 a.m. then martha stewart.
She looked through the magical colored hydes of buttery soft leathers and I fell hard for the beaded sparkly essemblages.

Here are the new BUZZELLI crazy belts-- now that's what I call a real show pony special

this is the detail of a new dress I made---the strap thingey.

Also made a whole new pile of tshirts in happy summer colors on thin fabric. My fingers ache and my eyelids are weary.
I also visited later on tonight with my friend from Japan Reijin- He is the amazing inventor of the SLOTH character--enjoy sloth life. He brought his cool new Japan cellphone- that is also a t.v. that actually records movies etc...
What will they think of next- don't I have ADD enough? Do they want me to apply makeup while eating a burrito while watching a talkshow while driving and taking a photo of a cool chair on the side of the road with my t.v. phone?
jeez loiuse.

Drenik Family Gift Box

As you know I sell my stuff on a site called Etsy. The people who care about struggling artists go there and show some love by getting stuff. Recently I sold a $12 dollar tote bag to my friends in Sacramento. I told them if they sent money I'd be mad. They thought it should be worth more- I disagreed. Because $12 dollars is like 3 lattes..(.or a sandwich at Chango cafe-)
They suggested they would mail me a gift box in exchange. Little did I know that the Drenik Family knows how to pack the most fantastic survival kit for the starving fashion designer. Seriously folks- aside from a steady supply of cough syrup and yogurts- I've been on a low budget meal plan. So how did they know all my favorites??

Check these contents and don't be jealous:

1. Super tinkerbell glitter sticker
2. A Super HITS- Jason Drenik/ Harry Patt BAnd C.D.
3. amazing avant guarde leather neckpiece with magical orange glitter rock beads
4. a stash of moroccan mint tea
5. A leather flower pin
6. An awesome handknit-beaded sparkly necklace--so sweet
7. a gold stripe party favor
8. chinese Flower teas
9. Scooby Doo Fruit rollups with TATTOOS
10. Peanut Butter crackers
11. And my all time favorite combo the peanut butter on cheese crackers....mmmm orange food.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So let's see...I send a limp TIGER tote bag=== VALUE $12

And they send me a couture/fashion/musical/culture tea party/snacks with entertainment favors
value at least $100

Getting this tonight while starving watching bad t.v. and drawing---priceless
Check out this talented FAMILY (with the cutest kid ever) at their BLOG:http://drenik.us/
*my first film debut is in the movie the ZOOM Dimension

Progress Isn't Pretty

I went to bed at 2:20 in the morning last night because the people that I'm making the art show flyer for found about 14 corrections between yesterday and this morning. I woke up at 5:00 a.m. with a terrible anxiety and chronic cough. Greg says tonight if it persists it's sofa city for this sweetheart. I am still awake and feel semi-twitchy. The days are numbered and the work has really not all been completed.. . I'm going to stay clear of sharp objects and rat poison, because my horoscope said that although everything seems impossible--I'm just the person to prove it isn't. Yeah right. In the meantime- I've contructed a kite, 30 pillows, and a mile high pile in every corner of this place. Do they still have "Mighty Maids?"

If anyone has any advice or ideas on how I can pull this production off please feel free to leave a friendly comment. By the way I've decided that my biggest productivity problem is that I"m always afraid to fail so I just keep putting off executing the ideas so they remain "perfect" in my mind. So starting this week I am reborn. I have a whole new mantra: " DON'T WORRY, BE CRAPPY."
Just do it--even if it might be lame- better then sitting watching My Super Sweet 16 all day, right?

here she goes again

Well- here is another reason to get excited about JUNE coming soon. Another fab fashion cover and spread for little miss KATE MOSS. Anyone who can change their look from a young Faye Dunaway - to Marilyn Monroe- to sultry Bardot sex kitten get's an A+ from me.
Speaking of KATE MOSS- if you are really a fan-- why not go visit my site and buy a Kate MOSS t-shirt or tunic? go to : www.kimebuzzelli.etsy.com

Why Aren't We Wearing these Spring Frocks?

Oh that's right- we can't afford the couture.
For the low cost of a down payment on a nice home-you can trott down the block.

How easily I forget as the luscious fabrics and fabulous colors hypnotize the eyes.
I am filled with a flurry of thought patterns, paint palettes, and dizzy delightful portraits waiting to me made.

I was sitting on the messy floor, contemplating a walk for inspiration but instead went online. How did
these things get by me? When did Gaultier and Lacroix tap into my dreams and design all this?

it's electrifying

this screams Gaultier- This is the one Kate moss was wearing in W

find more from the couture SPRING files if you need a surge at:
http://nymag.com/fashion/fashionshows/couture/index.html
I'm going back to paint-

feeling good

found this tooth bracelet on etsy. kawaiiii

where I also found this psychedelic guitar for sale for $350

LOVE J.P.

these are girls I painted on my friend danielles wall years ago

Clyde--almost my new dog

Meet Mr. Clyde my new favorite pet. I really really want to adopt him, should I?
Wouldn't it be swell to have an awesome laid back pal like good ol Clyde? He has a magical beard and pleasant demeanor. What do you thing about crazy artists owning a dog? Maybe I should work up from the plants to the pets and get a move on cleaning the art work space first?

Appreciate Mom Day

I called my mom early today. She lives in Ohio with my younger sister. They are both LEOs, one born on the 7th and the other on the 17th. Both of them are almost too kind for this world. My mother will leave an 80% tip on a table, and when I argue about it, she'll say "That waitress is a single mother..." and go into a detailed account of the woman's life/family/ problems etc... She has every stray cat on the block fed and sheltered at her home. (Which also applied to our runaway friends in high school or loser boyfriends-who she also took in and fed) She never bought herself anything when we were growing up, except maybe an occasional chocolate bar. She moved to the U.S. from Scotland when she was about 11 and has a mean sweet tooth. If you ever said in passing that you liked something, she'd sell the clothes off her back to make it yours. Her creativity is endless. She can knit, embroider, sew, replicate any T.V. guide cover, and put any miserable game or bike together. While my impatient father was swearing, she would be solving the problems effortlessly.
I like that when she was on the phone she would doodle patterns on envelopes and write THE END over and over. She was also the first person I ever witnessed blacking in all the teeth on magazine covers and giving celebs eye patches.
When Ohio was experiencing a blizzard and I was "too cool" to wear gloves and a hat outside at age 12...my father told me I couldn't leave the house, while my mother remained cool and said " Let her go..." Which I defiantly did-- only to sneak back in later and admit I needed them. She knew that by trying to hold us back from doing things would only make us want to more. When I had decided to run away from home at age 9 because I hated the entire family, she assisted me in my luggage choice and said I should go for the more light case- in case the roads got long. She also asked the important questions while packing like "Do you think you may need this warm coat too? Don't forget clean socks." She then led me to the door and said "Don't forget to keep in touch".
I only got as far as the back yard hill. Where I could look in on them resuming dinner activities without me. She never even rolled her eyes when later that night I snuck back upstairs and went to bed.
In the 6th grade, my teacher Mrs. Reed made us read Johnnie Tremain- where he apprentices with someone to learn how to make something. We were assigned to work at home with our mothers and bake a pie for the class. The best pie would win a prize.
When I told my mom, she said "We should do something totally unique and not really bake a pie at all, then she suggested we make a fabric pie. She then took a pie tin and glued satin cream fabric to the bottom and filled the pie with those deep red small curtain pom poms and cut satin into pretty pinking sheared strips woven on top like a fresh cherry pie. It looked real- and it won for most original.
IT's funny cause if you ever told her she was artistic she would say she really isn't good at anything.
In high school she always took me thrifting to find JAckie O- like two piece 60 suits and Pretty In Pink jewelry. She would always cover my tardiness to class with fake dermatogolist notes. She would fall in love every day in the 80's with a new "one hit wonder" from Safety Dance to One Night In Bangkok and buy the cassette tape. On route to the grocery store she would sing all the wrong words- for example-
Journey lyrics for Faithfully-- she would sing I'm forever yours Italy
Police Every Breath You take--- she'd sing I'm a pool hall ace-- instead of my poor heart aches.
The Go Gos-- Our Lips are Sealed ---AS Long as I see you.
You get the picture, right?

Anyway- I was just thinking about all that has happened in the years since we moved from that house, afer my parents messy divorce. She still remains sassy and quirky. My father has long since remarried, and yet I believe he never knew how to contain her. She can still get him to do pretty much anything. He was always so conservative and controlled- and she was so natural and free spirited that it baffled us as children how they ever married at all. Perhaps it was her Beatle mania mop top Vidal SASSOON haircut, or the mini bike she used to ride, or the way she was hard to impress.
I like to imagine that he was struck down by her inability to censor herself- that uncontrollable laugh and her honestly. Things he could never acquire.

Anyway- on this mother's day-I'm glad to have such a crazy mother

Iccarus

The entire block has gone mad- for a bird named Iccarus. Lucky for us, David at WORK has been taking his girlfriends feathered pet along for the day. While he is sewing --we all take turns having this darling pet nibble at our jewelry and coo sweet nothings into our ears. Very charming and friendly, Iccarus is toilet trained and enjoys neck rubs. The experience has left all of us pondering a trip to the pet store.

May Flowers

It's almost Mother's Day, when everyone scrambles for flowers and something nice. Most of our mothers would prefer a day at a spa, someone else to clean for the day, and peace and quiet I'm sure. The Goldmine Garage on Echo Park is packing all sorts of flower arrangements, Le Pink on Sunset has all the lotions and beauty products, and there's always books. Of course my mom would probably just like to win the lottery and have my father put in a small cage. Just kidding, well maybe. The War of the Roses has not ended quite yet.
Here are my favorite SPRING picks for feeling fine in the May month--

this adorable vintage dress is all hand embroidered and painted

check out the PUCCI print umbrella

My favorite flower artist ODILON Redon- I used to check out books at the library when I was a kid of Redon because of the pictures

www.ibiblio.org/ wm/paint/auth/redon/
and something to look forward to:

The next two paintings are by artist Kelly Ording- who is having a show at New Image ARt in June

Lovely & Whimsical

The cute moppy haired designer behind the DIOR fine jewlery line is absolutely out of her mind! I mean this in the best possible way of course. Designer Victoire de Castellane creates whimsical rings with gems, clusters of flowers, and skulls straight out of Peter Pan. She works mostly from her PAris studio, where she has collections of snow globes, little figurines and crazy dolls from Japan. Castellane states in the new ELLE magazine that she like to create a story for each collection.

I went by a thrift store yesterday that I always frequent & immediately called Miss Cynthia to drive over fast. Seems someone fabulous must have donated their psychedelic life to the shop. We are talking Insane colorful kimonos with groovy trees, Mod purple and neon red tulips and daisy neon lamp shades.
She arrived and lucky for us the guy who works there ( I like to call him the voice of reason cause he always tells me when I don't need something) Here he is persuading me to turn away from the clown doll

these are lovely fossils that cory madley had in her studio for necklace making--

sugar and spice

Who ever said little girls were made of sugar and spice may have had the wrong recipe. Not that I'm saying the whole batch of little girls are bad. It's just that maybe some of them were made from something rotten or spoiled. I know I've been feeling sick lately, and my defenses are down but what gives? At the post office today I noticed an adorable 3 1/2 year old girl (her mother told me her age). Just as I was processing how cute she was, she turned to an older Mexican woman and repeated over and over "why is she so short mommy, she's short, she's a kid a kid she's a kid a kid a kid." The mom replied "don't point, everyone comes in different sizes" At which point she jabbered on with a tourettes syndrome tongue about all kinds of things to customers. She realized she has put her finger on the attention trigger and raised her voice louder and circled the room. I smiled, while the mother pleaded with her " Please stop talking you're going to drive me crazy, remember those books you wanted, you can't get them if you don't behave."
At this point the little girl turned with a smirk and slowly circled her mother saying " Oh you poor books I'll miss you- I miss you already poor books, miss you miss you books", knowing in her 3 year old mind she would still get those books anyway. At this point in the line I saw the desperation of two other mothers with little girls also begging and whining. Man, at what point do you just cave to the demands of your kids just so they will be quiet for 15 minutes?
I returned home and found myself sick on the floor watching two hours of MTV. For those of you without cable that means MY SUPER SWEET 16 all day all night. This is a show where young girls on the verge of 16 and a porn career have a huge party that cost more then most of us make in four years. The girls beg their daddy for cars and always get the top of the line sometimes even two- followed by a few helicopter rides, airplanes to Vegas for dresses that cost $5000- $15,000 dollars. The parties usually involve at least three costume changes, venues that cost $50 thousand to rent for the night, an MP3 player invite, and some famous musical perfomer. All the while the girl talks about how everyone is gonna remember this moment and her above all else. Why watch-you may ask? it's almost hard to turn away, like a car crash. You are drawn to the ridiculous demands of these spoiled girls- and more amazed when they get their way. I keep hearing veruca "I want the world, I wan't the whole world..." from willy wonka.
I remember for my sweet 16 my dad surprised me by renting the town's City Hall Rec Center. It was actually considered really uncool, but I acted like it was awesome. And when the D.J. he rented played Celebrate Good Times and WE are Family, I laughed and danced with my friends and felt so guilty that he spent $100 bucks on the cake and the D.J. I still have the pictures of my friends confused faces- and eventually we bribed the D.J. to play some music from the car instead.

I actually love the new commercial for Cingular cell phones for teens ... they play horror music with vampire zombie like kids who demand cell phones or else. They come at you like the kid in the ring and promise they won't go over their minutes. The cute nerd girl from FREAKS and GEEKS is in it. She seems made of sugar.

Get Your Key Cozy or adopt a bee

Maybe you never thought of it before- but hey- your key is cold and needs to be protected. Why not get that spare house key a key cozy? I also found these adorable tiny knit creatures

The artist describes herself and her creations here:

I am a Japanese living in Australia with my sweet Aussie husband and a naughty but very cute cat.
I love making “Amigurumi-Japanese style crochet doll”, making beads accessories and illustrating cute animals on the PC.
All the Amigurumi here are my originals. I am trying to make something cute and lovely.

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Just for your information and a little bit of a Japanese lesson, some of my Amigurumi names have “-kun” or “-chan” at the end of names. Those can be translated in English as Mr. or Mrs. We normally put “-kun” for boy and “-chan” for girl. For example, I can be called Tamami-chan^^.

My name is Sabo-chan and I am a lovely amigurumi cactus!
Your room is not hot enough for me??
Don’t worry, you can be my sunshine! All I need is your warm and lovely smile(^-^)!!

Most of these were between $6- 15 Dollars!!
If you want to see more of her shop go to www.tamagurumi.etsy.com

sort of reminds me of Sonic YOUTH cover for Dirty by artist MIKE KELLEY-

MMMMMmmm doughnuts

Something smells good in the fashion world lately. Blame it on HOMER Simpson? Seems everything is coated with a confectionary twist or covered in pepperoni print. Look at the Fall 2006 line from designer Jeremy Scott. Funny thing is I saw him a few months back at the Pasedena Flea market buying a giant candy bar halloween costume.

this rad art necklace is called Rise and Shine and was created by: Mack.etsy.com

this next one is handmade out of felt and beaded sprinkles and sells at www. Bubblecup.esty.com

these icecream cone necklaces are made by AMYVILLE.com

anyway--Bon appetit --Go and get some dessert, you'll wear it well.

Things I missed on EBAY/ act three

When you are ill, it's hard to hustle. And if you can't hustle then you often lose. Here are a few sweethearts that got a way from me this week. adieu

everyone needs a paint by numbers flapper, right?

Speaking of sweethearts I miss- When is baby grandpa getting back to sunny L.A.????

Inertia Variations : john tottenham

The Edendale Library society held a Benefit tonight for the LIBRARY featuring
an IRREGULAR wine tasting with live performances.

Upon entering the ECHO I saw Miss. Cynthia checking out the preowned books on sale. I scored a lovely 1st edition book of old LOVE SONGS (c) 1907. From there I was made up in glitter eyeshadow by Heidi's "night of beauty" table. The evening truly took off when John Tottenham read from his book the INERTIA Variations.

Here's one poem he read:

DOWN Time
I sometimes marvel at how little I do
And at how it is necessary for me to do very little.
I could put a flame under myself, perhaps a flicker.
But I have this fire in me to do nothing. And it is important
That a certain amount of time should be reserved
For doing nothing. Both before, during and after
Doing something. And I could be incinerated
By a flicker.

The Living Sisters also performed for the first time tonight. The group consists of Eleni Mandell, Inara George and Becky Stark (Lavender Diamond). They were wearing dazzling glitter costumes from the corner store. Heidi let up their eyelids with glitter dust before they performed.

Eleni and Charlie

There is no describing the sound that comes from these three women. The angelic harmonies and delicate vocals seem too dreamy to be real. They are reminiscent of old USO performers on stage.

I also met Math tonight in the kitchen. Anyone who rocks this look is a pal of mine

Sometimes the Echo is the kind of place you run into people from the past that you need to make a clean get away from. So we opted to escape out the back alley and hike up the hill to the Brite Spot. We really wanted Thai food but our Scooby Van was left back at the scene...and we feared being found.

The evening ended with french fries and belly aches.

Hazy soft Opening

I guess it was probably all the cold medicine that made my night portraits so hazy. I apologize for the added blur. Tonight was another ART block party on gallery row. I like saying Gallery Row even though there are really no galleries. Cynthia had a pre-show opening of GOLDMINE GARAGE. The place was packed by 9. She gave away darling bouquets and dirty mohitos. If you want to see the whole picture click on it.
this was the opening day-right after the paper was torn down-

happy little macrame planters and elephant burlap mobiles

Britt said she always wanted to work somewhere with a psychedelic apron

nina in the tapestry rocker

shopgirl behind her new counter- check out that rad fluffy bear rug behind her

who ever said a Warlock never smiles?

Viv on the new Goldmine Bed- with creepy clown one and two

miss laura has always been camera shy-lucky for her the bouquets were big

Are my cheeks really this big? I hope it was just the fever I had

Next DOOR at the SHOW PONY- the artist of the night KUTMAH went crazy. Well just a little

sometimes I think that Vinca thinks STARMAN is real. She talks to him like he a real boy

The BIRTHDAY girl with artist UMAR

Miss Lizzie is always fabulous

her sister Jennifer was on fire last night. She is also the author of a new coffee table book about Vintage L.A.

Here they both are pretending to be the twins from the SHINING-

Gaby posing in her new LUXURY Jones wrap dress

Gaby and I attempted to set up Mr. Dimples (max) with Vinca. They were shy at first but by the end of the evening they were slightly flirting. He had to go home and kept asking if she was coming too. When we told him no, he said "Why, what Happened?" She gave him the coy smile and hair flip with a giggle and waved bye slowly. They are both only three but the future holds promise

That is not a ghost folks- that is real rare sighting of Kentaro at the party

I stole this one from Viv cause she knows how to get the pose down

here's Kelly at the Lucas space--

the Dynamo kids made plush eyeballs and Keith showed his new drawings

the boys of the block

Meet the new girl on the block- Miss Cynthia- if you love owls and crazy quilts- this is the place

After the medicine wore off and the crowd took over I could no longer continue to party. I went upstairs to find St. Gabriella washing all my dishes and making my counters sparkly. I can't think of a better way to end the night then the sight of this:

Birthday girls

Last night all of Carolina's friends huddled in the corner of Gaby's dining room--whispering and waiting for her to receive her big S U RP R ISE! The excited party could not stop giggling (well, it is hard when Susie is around cracking jokes). Poor Andreas was responsible for keeping the event scheduled on time and maintain a secret. The biggest surprise was that her mother flew all the way across the country to be there. The waiting was worth it...for the hug and tears between them gave me goose bumps.

the man with all the responsibility--Andreas

Britt loves her some Cinco de Mayo

Gaby's grandma made this magical daisy cake...it was four stories high

it's hard to believe Amber is a mom! Look how adorable she looks as she waits for cake

Mr. Dimples for days ate two cupcake tops, the frosting actually. He sat in a chocolate stupor-dazed from all the grown-ups and good food.
Carolina opened all her fantastic presents and then all of us old folks called it a night around midnight.

This morning I heard the young girls from my building leaving for their big QUINCE Anos party. The twin sisters looked like princesses as their dresses glided down Echo PArk Ave. Their mother looked so proud. All this birthday hoopla made my flu/sickness float away for a moment and take appreciation in the fact that birthdays are really a way to celebrate that you made it to another year. That is something pretty sweet.

You have to click on this picture to see their dad waiting in the wings--

Trippy tunes

Introducing my dream record player. I saw it and immediately put it on my "wish" list. Can't you just picture me indian style with my Fleetwood Mac and Thirteenth Floor Elevator records next to this magical player? The cover is signed by the artist Stevens Gottschalk. This would really jump start my dance party summer.

here's my record cover I designed for the Up Our Sleeve Dublab project:

Tough & LOVELY

Welcome a lovely new member to the Fringe Club. That's right, Caro has carved a nice set of BANGs in that gorgeous blue-black hair. All through ladies night the passing flicker of light on Caro's hair caused an electric commotion at the bar. It was nice to regroup with the girls over chips. Even in a noisy bar we discussed Fassbinder films, Mortality, Prince (sex appeal), and first celeb crushes.