The Moldy Doily

guess whose birthday is monday?

Officially we have no real idea when our lil Georgie (Gorgie) boy's birthday is.  I became his adopted mom on June 1st 2007.  See post HERE.  

The shelter guessed his age around 8 years old.  And since this June 1st marks our 2 year anniversary, that makes him a guess-timate of TEN!! Which of course makes the idea of cloning him ao much more desperate and time sensitive.  I know he will live to be around 35 years old cause he is a magic muppet.

You can see our very first photo shoot taken by the woman from the rescue cat shelter...HERE

I am going to make georgie boy "things to do" note pads this weekend and have a give away question on monday to win one.  We might have a salmon feast cake for the fatty.  We promise to share the pics with all the fans of GB.

You should go on PETFINDER.com and find your new companion and save them from a high kill shelter.  When I got georgie he had 5 days until they wanted to execute him.

The following kitties are all located near CA and have cute names like Huff & Puff,

Sassy, Cha Cha, Snickers, Sopia Loren, London, Picasso, Donatello...

this is my favorite georgie boy look -a- like his name is picasso, my very favorite painter when I was like 9

kitty rescue

This SUNDAY you better represent

I am going to be selling off some of my favorite accessories, clothes and hand made things at the space 1520 BLOGGER sale.  The event is all day sunday here in Hollywood from 11-4.  It's right next to the Farmer's market too, so you can score some peonies as you are leaving.  I am unloading some of my precious jewels and belts like this fab fiber art one with wood and beads!

This orange and black wooden seed bead necklace I scored from an artist while traveling in Barcelona!  It's one of kind and perfect for summer

I am also going to be selling off vintage clothes, silkscreen tshirts, prints and paintings.  I might try and make more hand painted pillow ladies too!

xo

Fringe Fancy & Muslin magic

Designer Jiwon Jahng (graduate of Central St. Martins) is simply a fiber art genius!  His one of a kind fringe and embroidered creations can be found at NOT JUST A LABEL a site where you can actually locate clothing and accessories by unique/cutting edge designers and BUY it!

These next two dresses are my personal favorites...reminiscent of stunning 70's fiber yarn wall hangings and layered with antique beads- they are masterpieces for not only the body but hanging in your bedroom on the wall.  Abstract little landscapes that cover your hips.  I want one of these simply to shimmy in

haunting lashes with a forest embrace

Photographer Courtney Brooke Hall posted a few of her amazing pics that I saw on my facebook today and was immediately blown away! Her shots of dreamy women in the woods are pure magic and the proof that she's a true artist.  Something about her soft focus and secret society of sexy ladies reminded me of my favorite photographer Francesca Woodman. Both employ friends in their shoots and capture delightful movement.  Courtney seems to snap shots with a camera that transports subjects  back in time.  Gypsies, and forest vamps conjuring up mischief in the wild. One of my favorite blogs the COVETED 

did a sweet interview with her in 08: where she was asked---

C: How did you get into photography? Are you self taught, or did you get the full photo education?

CB: I think [photography] was a cross between a giant accident and the need to have what I thought was an easy medium for my outlandish ideas. I was never very good at my art classes whether it was sculpture or drawing, I always thought I was sub-par, and could not efficiently get out  the ideas floating around in my head. I had found, yes found, an old canon AE-1 when I was in high school and signed myself up for some photo classes. The teacher I had was amazing and she pointed me in the direction of non-traditional artists that, being 16 at the time, totally blew my mind. The Starn Brothers, Sally Mann, Veruschka… and she was this crazy hippie throw back who herself was into making installation art. I was inspired by her and just started going from there. I found myself taking ideas from literature and folklore, my record collection, the bird sanctuary near my house, and the old family photos in my parents basement from the 20’s-70’s. I did the college thing for a little while but never actually focused in photography. I mostly wanted to keep my addiction to photos and growth as an artist to myself.

Courtney Brooke's photo site

excuse me but I'd like to get in your way please

This is the surprised look of a cat in a "no Kitty Zone".  There are certain places in the home where cats are not allowed to tread.  Unfortunately the signs appear to have made no impact here.  So it should come as no surprise that Mr. Georgie Boy has had to have his hair combed of Hot pink paint- on numerous occasions.  He loves the smell of markers and the sound of paper underneath him.

But don't think Georgie is the only rebel, seems his good ol pal LARGEY has enjoyed disobeying the laws over here in respect to the art table.  

Largey has a real foot fetish- and lays on all of our shoes the minute we take them off (in the case of these LadyBoy boots- even when they are still on--he rubs against them like they are made of cat nip) 

But perhaps we should be flattered right?  It only goes to show that our cats are so damn smart that they now hang out where we like to be the most.  In my case...the cats like to get right in the middle of my projects as if to say "hey lady- we need some of your time"

Which might make sense that LARGEY is now dangling himself from the flat screen t.v. in an effort to get his dad to pay attention to him. He probably is trying to make a cat barrier so that someone notices him during a basketball game.

remind me to ask and be reincarnated as a persian cat someday-

the boardwalk

Cruising with Chanel?

These resort fashions are sort of like a combo of Picnic at Hanging Rock meets Plymouth Rock meets the Marchesa Casati eye makeup/hair

I am a sucker for sailor fashion stripes and smokey eyes with wild curls

For the budget girl version of some of these resort nautical Chanel looks- I would have to suggest:

stripey sailor dress

and the sailor girl swimsuit retro style

by kimchi

or maybe a sweet cloche for lounging while reading?

also by kimchi

and these vintage inspired bathing suits on etsy are pretty cute too...

I love Op/Art stripes go here to find it for sale

stripey bikini

the next one reminds me of that famous vintage Barbie Doll striped suit!

(random summer breeze pictures from Italian Vogue,Numero and Flickr)

Looks like summer is heating up in Paris!  The latest fashion spreads are literally spreading the lovely legs.  In the spirit of the late great Helmut Newton- some of these are getting down & dirty 

Leave it up to photographer Terry Richardson to make a fantastically sexy editorial in the new Paris Vogue.

 A toutes jambes

Photographed by Terry Richardson
Styled by Emmanuelle Alt
Models: Anja Rubik & Natasha Poly

The next ones are by photographer Mario Sorrenti

the title is SERIE NOIRE

featuring models Guinevere Van Seenus and Eniko Mihalik

Prepare yourself for the steamy scene ahead...

                                                                               (scanned by Diorette)

the photographers probably had to take a nice long cold shower after those

Please come and join us for a day of music, shopping, or just to hang!  We invited a few of our favorite local bloggers, vintage sellers + designers to come out to the Space to sell their clothes, accessories, and all things lovely. You can also stop by the Farmer's Market on your way!

Music by DJ duo Pony Vs. Tiger + a live performance byWarpaint
*There will be a tarot card reader and a henna artist :)

Until then, check out their blogs/shops:

Welcome Hunters
The Moldy Doily (Show Pony)
The Keyishe
That's Chic
Taghrid.cc
Systems of Operation
Scout 
Ramona West Vintage
Pop Killer
Mirror Phase
Lulu and your Mom
Lady Electrique
I'm Boy Crazy
Hansel From Basel
Frecuencia Modulada
Fashion Poison
Fashion Intel
Double Ds
Boos and Besito
BJ Panda Bear 
Aussenhaut
Angie Rex

So I am going to be participating in this cool BLOGGER flea market type sale at Gallery Space 1520 this coming sunday! IT's perfect because the Farmer's Mkt is right there and WARPAINT is performing!  

My good pal MARCELLA is going to be reading fortunes to shoppers as well!

In between the sale ...darling d.j. duo Pony Vs. Tiger  are gonna spin fantastic music.  I will be selling off a lot of things- way too many to photograph--I have been making new accessories, prints, t-shirts handpainted, and have TONS and TONS of crazy VIntage- treasure chests full of vintage jewelry that I am finally parting with- some I have help onto since I was in high school.

I will also have some of my framed art there and interesting items featured on my blog.

Hope you can make it if you are in L.A.-  When the sale is over anything left will probably go on my etsy site

XOXO

I am in love with Chantal Joffe's amazing paintings. Her loose style reminds me so much of the late artist Alice Neel. Ms. Joffe was born in 69' in the UK and works now in London.  I have always loved painting with long dripping strokes like that, especially with such grand scale!

Most of these are from a show she has up currently at CHEIM and READ gallery

the show is up until june 20th!

Mr H. said hello 4th floor heatwave...goodbye pretty boy fancy hair last night.

There was a long deliberation where he weighed the pros and cons of having long locks. Then we discussed the cool relief of a close shaved head, (the mention of the new Terminator flick influence) and the awesome toughness a short cut can instantly provide.  I mean a shaved head is seriously commanding more respect on the basketball court.

I have to say his blue eyes seem to POP ever since he lost the locks.

I told him that with his new cut he could pass himself off as a psychic detective, a ska boy (note hat prop above), an English rapper, or one of those guys at the gym. 

I made him watch VALLEY GIRL last night,to make sure he passed the litmus test.  Scored extra points today for saying..."we have to watch the rest of Valley Girl tonight and eat pizza"

Finally landed a winning team.

in the search for fashion muses- keep stumbling across my old favorites too-like darling gap toothed model LARA Stone directly below:

the infamous Ms. Stone again

not sure who this red head is- but really loved these pics!

I heart VLADA!

Anabela Belikova--new face from Belarus- LOVE her curly hair!

I have to admit that my new fashion favorite muse is actually not a magazine super model.  She isn't even in any of the pictures above. She is a real person with incredible style.  I am going to keep her a secret for a little longer while I work on paintings inspired by her.

Don't want to jinx my new streak.

In 1998 while working at the vintage shop the WASTELAND as a buyer, I formed a friendship with Vincent Gallo.  I soon learned that Mr. Gallo was not only a director/writer/model/musician/actor but a super fan of collectable fashion and occasionally a designer.  He would regularly collect clothes from designers like Granny Takes a TRIP, North Beach Leather, and East West Music Co.  

Vincent created this pair of white leather bondage pants in the 90's, and gave them to me in exchange for house sitting one night at his place while a cool Japanese commercial or ad campaign was shot in his INCREDIBLE John Lautner house. 

Contrary to all the crazy things people always say about Mr. Gallo, and his reputation as "difficult"...he has always been a sweet friend to me.  He gave me cool clothing and art books and even the infamous fax machine he previously owned that Grand Royal magazine listed the number to in their mag.  We used to use it at the Show Pony- way back in the early days.

Maybe it's the Italian Sicilian attitude that I grew up with in my own family that prepared me in advance for the sarcastic and funny taunts of the witty Gallo.

Did I mention that he signed them- for me too?

BID on them HERE! Ebay

I wouldn't be selling off these magnificent cool pants if not for my desire to acquire the coolest ART SPACE ever to spend my days painting all day and night on.

I will be listing all kinds of crazy amazing and nostalgic gems from my vintage archives in order to pay off this space!!

Check out my dream new space I got to paint in... so excited to get in there and get to work

In the middle of summer 2004 I went to Tokyo Japan to do a solo art installation at ROCKET Gallery space.  The owner was featured in the infamous scene in Lost in Translation where Bill Murray is being told to act like Dean Martin or 007.  I remember that it was a million degrees and when we arrived it was slightly raining.  Everyone walking around had the most incredible umbrellas.  Back then I did not own a cell phone or a digital camera.  I also did not really own a computer.  I was sort of a nuisance to my pals in other words.

It was my second time in a year visiting the country and I was excited to explore it again.  I swear going to visit Japan is the closest thing to traveling to MARS.  Everything seems way ahead of its time in that space-age Jetson's way.  Toilets that make musical sounds and heat up when you sit on them.  Luxury even at the local malls. Koo koo video games where you play musical bongos and muppet creatures pop up.

Everything imaginable can be found in a street vending machine.

I used to dye my hair dark brown (it was sort of my Italian side Sophia Loren phase)  I do think it made my eyes seem more big and blue.  Take a look at some of the images my friend Niki snapped while we were there. 

I just found this disc while cleaning a closet out.  

It made me remember the long and lovely train ride to Kyoto to see the incredible trees and tea shops that have existed long before the U.S. 

The ancient streets, buildings and fascinating people- if you have never been- you absolutely must go check it all out!

You will discover the coolest trends...socks with prints that you'd never imagine- and sneakers galore.

I was interviewed as an artist on the radio station below!! I was so nervous...

some of the art/clothing that I made for the show-

slap happy with the pods again.  This was the second time that I utilized them in an art show...something about them makes me infected with happiness and glee

looking at all of these images from only like 5 years ago made me realize how much my artwork and style have changed too.

We bought some of the coolest things ever at the flea markets near Harajuko.  So many cool guys and girls set up blankets with all of their clothes and things they make.  

me and my pal FROSTY (d.j. mark mcneil) eating a sushi feast

the place was so rad...sort of like a hip punk sushi apartment restaurant.  People sitting on floors with loud music playing

my crazy dress I made for Mike Mills shop HUMANs in tokyo.  The dress was made from all of his printed fabrics

Maybe sometime in the future when I have a lot of free time I will scan the million photos I took with my medium format camera on real film!  I took tons of pics of the Harajuko lolitas in the park and fashionable boys on scooters.  I have them all on contact sheets waiting for the moment I can actually afford to print them out.  Did I mention that it cost me close to $700 dollars to have the film developed and made into contact sheets- that's right almost double my plane ticket just to develop the film--not even made into pictures!!!

what was I thinking shooting REAL film, I'm not even a pro shutterbug.

Anyway- someday someday...

These fashion pics made me long for chaise lounge chairs pool side with a radio, a hammock by a woodsy lake, a steamy summer dance floor, dipping feet into water from a boat dock, and wearing a giant pair of sunglasses with a giant flower as big behind my ear

(photo by amanda de cadenet)

These next ones are all by photo darling Yelena Yemchuk.  These were featured in an editiorial called Where the Wild Things Are in Vogue UK june 2009! (model Tiiu Kuilk)

(Scanned by Manuva)

These next ones are also in that same UK mag! Love her hat

Plus a whole spread with my gal LARA STONE! Always hot, but in these summer shots- even hotter

these next photos are from the editorial titled:

Show And Tell
photographer--Paolo Roversi
Model: Guinevere Van Seenus
Fashion Editor: Lucinda Chambers
Make Up: Linda Cantello
Hair: Luke Hersheson

(Scanned by Manuva)

I LOVE these painterly dreamy pics!!

I recently bought a cool surf magazine called FOAM.  Inside there was a neat article on Australian clothing designer  Natalie Wood,her company Something Else and her awesome pad.  Sharing her name with a famous late actress and establishing her own claim on fame has proven easy for this creative laid back soul. 

 A few days after buying the magazine, I noticed that the SELBY site did a post on her space as well.  She was interviewed by Harper's Bazaar once on her inspirations:

Harpers B: Who or what are your personal style inspirations and icons?
Natalie W: “Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis as a couple. Jane Birkin and Charlotte Gainsbourg as a mother and daughter. Diane Keaton as Annie Hall. And I love [Italian porn star turned politico] Ilona Cicciolina.”

I am selling one of my favorite Glam rhinestone Cuff Bracelets on ebay!

This will make any wrist fancy!

Old Hollywood costume style.my EBAY here

In 2004 I was featured in an art show at the EROTIC Museum here in L.A. with artists Chris Lindig, Richard Colemand and AXIS. The show was curated by photographer Carlos Batts.  Recently he selected me as one of 8 artists chosen to paint on a plaster mold of his lady's (adult film star April Flores) LOVE TOY.  The one night only show was held at La Luz de Jesus gallery in Los Feliz on May 13th.

April Flores is the first voluptuous BBW to be chosen to have a toy made of her anatomy.  And the artists were asked to create one of kind creations using the plaster molds of April as the canvas.

I will admit I have painted on a lot of bizarre things in my past...from vacuums to tires but never on a lady's plaster privates.  So here goes my X-rated blog post--

 Other participating artists include Axis, Carlos Batts, Coop, Jim Mahfood, Kozyndan, Misha, and Small Paul. 

“Creative interpretations of the female anatomy are fundamental to art,” explains Carlos Batts, Curator. “Specifically, this project was inspired by the irony of Jeff Koons’ work and the playfulness of the Dunny movement, as well as by April herself. 

The following pics are of the art pieces that night- Notice that I am officially documented on an adult network!  Daddy would be so proud.

Kozyandan made this next piece featured with the inspiration...

The super SELBY has struck another amazing spread in a mag.  Not only is his work documenting people's places in the new PAPER mag, but he has a feature on Helena Christensen's RAD home in the new PARIS vogue.

In honor of her luxurious place I found some things online that I  imagine would also fit perfectly in to her place.

I cannot for the life of me remember where I snagged the above photos from.  Only that I was so happy when I saw them and meant to take a mental note. So to whomever they belong...I apologize for my ADD- and not crediting the source.

This next ones are from the new installation by GARY BASEMAN currently at Corey Helford gallery

I decided to make this blog post because for awhile there I was obsessed with making (sewing, drawing) crazy pod like bulbous things.  Part of this obsession was that I was intrigued by organic creatures, jellyfish, sea things and multiplying disease like things.  My artwork was featured in the Gen ART Young Emerging Artist show at Track 16 gallery way back in 2003 (I think that's when it was?).  I had created a giant multi-pod cluster soft sculpture that hung 30 feet from the ceilings.  IT sort of resembled an underwater chandelier.  The pods were all beaded, stained, embroidered and bound with yarns.  The piece was enormous and took up a lot of space in my place.  I ended up giving them to the only person who ever really appreciated their strange glory.  My friend Niki who has a clothing line called luxury jones.

She decided to use them in the background for her new fashion look book.  Check them out in the piles behind her models:

Here's some of the new vintage stuff I posted on my EBAY

check them out !!

Below are the things I am going to post for sale tomorrow...

the May issue of Italian Vogue has this decadently morose fashion editorial by Craig McDean.  Something about their haunting eyes and powdered faces makes me want to paint.  I've always been inspired by doily doll faces and dyed grunge flowers.  How creepy does that make me?  Notice some of their knit gloves and tights combined with mosh pit boots.

Last night I was invited to the premiere screening in Los Angeles of Our City Dreams

an incredible documentary on five female artists who have chosen to create artwork in NYC.  Below is a summary:

Chiara Clemente, daughter of painter Francesco Clemente, follows five New York-based female artists for her documentary Our City Dreams. Swoon, Nancy Spero, Kiki Smith, Ghada Amer, and Maria Abramovich (all heavy hitters in the art world) were filmed over the course of two years as they lived and worked in New York City. Highlights of the film include:

Swoon’s first solo exhibition at Deitch Projects in New York, Ghada Amer’s return to her Egyptian homeland, Kiki Smith’s traveling retrospective, Marina Abramovic’s weeklong series of performances at the Guggenheim Museum in New York and Nancy Spero’s preparations of a new piece for the 2007 Venice Biennale.

  My friend Tanya Selvaratnam produced the film.  This is a must see for artists who want to be inspired ( much like the film the Beautiful Losers).  I wanted to skip the after party and rush home and clear a space to create things.  The audience was filled with creative women artists, designers and performers.

Something sweetly nostalgic from my college painting years came flooding back while watching.  That feminist instinct that permeated all of my school projects in the 90's awakened.  Many of the women in the film have inspired my work, some of their books still on my shelves.

One of the artists featured in the film, Kiki Smith was a huge influence in my college work.  I was fascinated by her mastery of so many mediums.  Her wax body figures, sculptures, etched drawings and installations appear like stolen precious artifacts from a magical period of time.  Watching her in this new film riding her bike in the city with her long wavy grey hair made me envious.  I thought, "I hope to live like that someday".  Stopping along the way to remove some lovely drawer handles for future projects.  

below some of Kiki's work

The film reminded me of that documentary film on artist Alice Neal.  You may recall I posted the trailer to that film because it touched me.  The notion that as a women artist you are faced with the challenge of raising a family or creating art.  That theme is presented a few times in Our City Dreams as well.  Young artist Swoon is shown working away in her studio.  Sawdust flying around, hanging her silkscreened pieces floating from threads.  The energy is contagious.  Her desire to create til the sun comes up.  Swoon is later quoted as saying she's  “too consumed by art to start a family”—

above is Swoon's collaboration raft project

“I did art because I didn’t want to die,” says the restless painter Ghada Amer

Ghada Amer embroidered large canvas panels

You can check out her show from the Deitch gallery here!

Marina Abramovic  is the only performance artist in the film.  She has been called the Grandmother of the art form.  

Nancy Spero also featured in this film is the oldest of the women artists.  Her dedication and passionate love affair with her art and her husband (deceased artist Leon Golub)

YOU SHOULD go and see this film!! Check for listings

it's only playing til the 14th I think...

Laemmle's Music Hall 3
Beverly Hills, CA, 90211
(310) 274-6869
(12:20 PM), 2:40 PM, 5:00 PM, 7:20 PM, 9:40 PM

and check out more about the director here

this past sunday Fran kicked off the first of many summer fun BBQ parties.  The ladies and gents all came by and admired Fran's fantastic feast.  She not only makes martha stuart like flower arrangements...but is quite the hostess.  We all passed out after a day of sangria, roasted chickens, potato salad, fresh fruit compote and red velvet cake!  All of these pics are by Taylor Brittenham (hot blonde) because my camera is still R.I.P.

xo

this apartment isn't big enough for all of us, so you gotta go.  I have been walking around in this insane heat muttering like little edie.  I'm serious, the more stuff I have surrounding me the hotter & crazier it seems.  I know that you need a set of fine bone china OWL tea mugs...so get bidding.

So once again it's round 3 of spring cleaning.  I may finally clear out the crafts and clutter for good.

Check stuff out HERE and also on my etsy site here

summer faint

(random summer breeze pictures from Italian Vogue,Numero and Flickr)

naughty naughty

Looks like summer is heating up in Paris!  The latest fashion spreads are literally spreading the lovely legs.  In the spirit of the late great Helmut Newton- some of these are getting down & dirty 

Leave it up to photographer Terry Richardson to make a fantastically sexy editorial in the new Paris Vogue.

 A toutes jambes

Photographed by Terry Richardson
Styled by Emmanuelle Alt
Models: Anja Rubik & Natasha Poly

The next ones are by photographer Mario Sorrenti

the title is SERIE NOIRE

featuring models Guinevere Van Seenus and Eniko Mihalik

Prepare yourself for the steamy scene ahead...

                                                                               (scanned by Diorette)

the photographers probably had to take a nice long cold shower after those

blogger-iffic shop day

Please come and join us for a day of music, shopping, or just to hang!  We invited a few of our favorite local bloggers, vintage sellers + designers to come out to the Space to sell their clothes, accessories, and all things lovely. You can also stop by the Farmer's Market on your way!

Music by DJ duo Pony Vs. Tiger + a live performance byWarpaint
*There will be a tarot card reader and a henna artist :)

Until then, check out their blogs/shops:

Welcome Hunters
The Moldy Doily (Show Pony)
The Keyishe
That's Chic
Taghrid.cc
Systems of Operation
Scout 
Ramona West Vintage
Pop Killer
Mirror Phase
Lulu and your Mom
Lady Electrique
I'm Boy Crazy
Hansel From Basel
Frecuencia Modulada
Fashion Poison
Fashion Intel
Double Ds
Boos and Besito
BJ Panda Bear 
Aussenhaut
Angie Rex

So I am going to be participating in this cool BLOGGER flea market type sale at Gallery Space 1520 this coming sunday! IT's perfect because the Farmer's Mkt is right there and WARPAINT is performing!  

My good pal MARCELLA is going to be reading fortunes to shoppers as well!

In between the sale ...darling d.j. duo Pony Vs. Tiger  are gonna spin fantastic music.  I will be selling off a lot of things- way too many to photograph--I have been making new accessories, prints, t-shirts handpainted, and have TONS and TONS of crazy VIntage- treasure chests full of vintage jewelry that I am finally parting with- some I have help onto since I was in high school.

I will also have some of my framed art there and interesting items featured on my blog.

Hope you can make it if you are in L.A.-  When the sale is over anything left will probably go on my etsy site

XOXO

topless in purple gloves...

I am in love with Chantal Joffe's amazing paintings. Her loose style reminds me so much of the late artist Alice Neel. Ms. Joffe was born in 69' in the UK and works now in London.  I have always loved painting with long dripping strokes like that, especially with such grand scale!

Most of these are from a show she has up currently at CHEIM and READ gallery

the show is up until june 20th!

adios pretty locks

Mr H. said hello 4th floor heatwave...goodbye pretty boy fancy hair last night.

There was a long deliberation where he weighed the pros and cons of having long locks. Then we discussed the cool relief of a close shaved head, (the mention of the new Terminator flick influence) and the awesome toughness a short cut can instantly provide.  I mean a shaved head is seriously commanding more respect on the basketball court.

I have to say his blue eyes seem to POP ever since he lost the locks.

I told him that with his new cut he could pass himself off as a psychic detective, a ska boy (note hat prop above), an English rapper, or one of those guys at the gym. 

I made him watch VALLEY GIRL last night,to make sure he passed the litmus test.  Scored extra points today for saying..."we have to watch the rest of Valley Girl tonight and eat pizza"

Finally landed a winning team.

the search for divine inspiration

in the search for fashion muses- keep stumbling across my old favorites too-like darling gap toothed model LARA Stone directly below:

the infamous Ms. Stone again

not sure who this red head is- but really loved these pics!

I heart VLADA!

Anabela Belikova--new face from Belarus- LOVE her curly hair!

I have to admit that my new fashion favorite muse is actually not a magazine super model.  She isn't even in any of the pictures above. She is a real person with incredible style.  I am going to keep her a secret for a little longer while I work on paintings inspired by her.

Don't want to jinx my new streak.

get into Vinny Gallo's pants...

In 1998 while working at the vintage shop the WASTELAND as a buyer, I formed a friendship with Vincent Gallo.  I soon learned that Mr. Gallo was not only a director/writer/model/musician/actor but a super fan of collectable fashion and occasionally a designer.  He would regularly collect clothes from designers like Granny Takes a TRIP, North Beach Leather, and East West Music Co.  

Vincent created this pair of white leather bondage pants in the 90's, and gave them to me in exchange for house sitting one night at his place while a cool Japanese commercial or ad campaign was shot in his INCREDIBLE John Lautner house. 

Contrary to all the crazy things people always say about Mr. Gallo, and his reputation as "difficult"...he has always been a sweet friend to me.  He gave me cool clothing and art books and even the infamous fax machine he previously owned that Grand Royal magazine listed the number to in their mag.  We used to use it at the Show Pony- way back in the early days.

Maybe it's the Italian Sicilian attitude that I grew up with in my own family that prepared me in advance for the sarcastic and funny taunts of the witty Gallo.

Did I mention that he signed them- for me too?

BID on them HERE! Ebay

I wouldn't be selling off these magnificent cool pants if not for my desire to acquire the coolest ART SPACE ever to spend my days painting all day and night on.

I will be listing all kinds of crazy amazing and nostalgic gems from my vintage archives in order to pay off this space!!

Check out my dream new space I got to paint in... so excited to get in there and get to work

tokyo summer '04

In the middle of summer 2004 I went to Tokyo Japan to do a solo art installation at ROCKET Gallery space.  The owner was featured in the infamous scene in Lost in Translation where Bill Murray is being told to act like Dean Martin or 007.  I remember that it was a million degrees and when we arrived it was slightly raining.  Everyone walking around had the most incredible umbrellas.  Back then I did not own a cell phone or a digital camera.  I also did not really own a computer.  I was sort of a nuisance to my pals in other words.

It was my second time in a year visiting the country and I was excited to explore it again.  I swear going to visit Japan is the closest thing to traveling to MARS.  Everything seems way ahead of its time in that space-age Jetson's way.  Toilets that make musical sounds and heat up when you sit on them.  Luxury even at the local malls. Koo koo video games where you play musical bongos and muppet creatures pop up.

Everything imaginable can be found in a street vending machine.

I used to dye my hair dark brown (it was sort of my Italian side Sophia Loren phase)  I do think it made my eyes seem more big and blue.  Take a look at some of the images my friend Niki snapped while we were there. 

I just found this disc while cleaning a closet out.  

It made me remember the long and lovely train ride to Kyoto to see the incredible trees and tea shops that have existed long before the U.S. 

The ancient streets, buildings and fascinating people- if you have never been- you absolutely must go check it all out!

You will discover the coolest trends...socks with prints that you'd never imagine- and sneakers galore.

I was interviewed as an artist on the radio station below!! I was so nervous...

some of the art/clothing that I made for the show-

slap happy with the pods again.  This was the second time that I utilized them in an art show...something about them makes me infected with happiness and glee

looking at all of these images from only like 5 years ago made me realize how much my artwork and style have changed too.

We bought some of the coolest things ever at the flea markets near Harajuko.  So many cool guys and girls set up blankets with all of their clothes and things they make.  

me and my pal FROSTY (d.j. mark mcneil) eating a sushi feast

the place was so rad...sort of like a hip punk sushi apartment restaurant.  People sitting on floors with loud music playing

my crazy dress I made for Mike Mills shop HUMANs in tokyo.  The dress was made from all of his printed fabrics

Maybe sometime in the future when I have a lot of free time I will scan the million photos I took with my medium format camera on real film!  I took tons of pics of the Harajuko lolitas in the park and fashionable boys on scooters.  I have them all on contact sheets waiting for the moment I can actually afford to print them out.  Did I mention that it cost me close to $700 dollars to have the film developed and made into contact sheets- that's right almost double my plane ticket just to develop the film--not even made into pictures!!!

what was I thinking shooting REAL film, I'm not even a pro shutterbug.

Anyway- someday someday...

sweet summertime inspirations

These fashion pics made me long for chaise lounge chairs pool side with a radio, a hammock by a woodsy lake, a steamy summer dance floor, dipping feet into water from a boat dock, and wearing a giant pair of sunglasses with a giant flower as big behind my ear

(photo by amanda de cadenet)

These next ones are all by photo darling Yelena Yemchuk.  These were featured in an editiorial called Where the Wild Things Are in Vogue UK june 2009! (model Tiiu Kuilk)

(Scanned by Manuva)

These next ones are also in that same UK mag! Love her hat

Plus a whole spread with my gal LARA STONE! Always hot, but in these summer shots- even hotter

these next photos are from the editorial titled:

Show And Tell
photographer--Paolo Roversi
Model: Guinevere Van Seenus
Fashion Editor: Lucinda Chambers
Make Up: Linda Cantello
Hair: Luke Hersheson

(Scanned by Manuva)

I LOVE these painterly dreamy pics!!

aussie diggs

I recently bought a cool surf magazine called FOAM.  Inside there was a neat article on Australian clothing designer  Natalie Wood,her company Something Else and her awesome pad.  Sharing her name with a famous late actress and establishing her own claim on fame has proven easy for this creative laid back soul. 

 A few days after buying the magazine, I noticed that the SELBY site did a post on her space as well.  She was interviewed by Harper's Bazaar once on her inspirations:

Harpers B: Who or what are your personal style inspirations and icons?
Natalie W: “Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis as a couple. Jane Birkin and Charlotte Gainsbourg as a mother and daughter. Diane Keaton as Annie Hall. And I love [Italian porn star turned politico] Ilona Cicciolina.”

you wear it well

I am selling one of my favorite Glam rhinestone Cuff Bracelets on ebay!

This will make any wrist fancy!

Old Hollywood costume style.my EBAY here

master plaster

In 2004 I was featured in an art show at the EROTIC Museum here in L.A. with artists Chris Lindig, Richard Colemand and AXIS. The show was curated by photographer Carlos Batts.  Recently he selected me as one of 8 artists chosen to paint on a plaster mold of his lady's (adult film star April Flores) LOVE TOY.  The one night only show was held at La Luz de Jesus gallery in Los Feliz on May 13th.

April Flores is the first voluptuous BBW to be chosen to have a toy made of her anatomy.  And the artists were asked to create one of kind creations using the plaster molds of April as the canvas.

I will admit I have painted on a lot of bizarre things in my past...from vacuums to tires but never on a lady's plaster privates.  So here goes my X-rated blog post--

 Other participating artists include Axis, Carlos Batts, Coop, Jim Mahfood, Kozyndan, Misha, and Small Paul. 

“Creative interpretations of the female anatomy are fundamental to art,” explains Carlos Batts, Curator. “Specifically, this project was inspired by the irony of Jeff Koons’ work and the playfulness of the Dunny movement, as well as by April herself. 

The following pics are of the art pieces that night- Notice that I am officially documented on an adult network!  Daddy would be so proud.

Kozyandan made this next piece featured with the inspiration...

boheme en prose

The super SELBY has struck another amazing spread in a mag.  Not only is his work documenting people's places in the new PAPER mag, but he has a feature on Helena Christensen's RAD home in the new PARIS vogue.

In honor of her luxurious place I found some things online that I  imagine would also fit perfectly in to her place.

POD-riffic! Bulbous is the new black

I cannot for the life of me remember where I snagged the above photos from.  Only that I was so happy when I saw them and meant to take a mental note. So to whomever they belong...I apologize for my ADD- and not crediting the source.

This next ones are from the new installation by GARY BASEMAN currently at Corey Helford gallery

I decided to make this blog post because for awhile there I was obsessed with making (sewing, drawing) crazy pod like bulbous things.  Part of this obsession was that I was intrigued by organic creatures, jellyfish, sea things and multiplying disease like things.  My artwork was featured in the Gen ART Young Emerging Artist show at Track 16 gallery way back in 2003 (I think that's when it was?).  I had created a giant multi-pod cluster soft sculpture that hung 30 feet from the ceilings.  IT sort of resembled an underwater chandelier.  The pods were all beaded, stained, embroidered and bound with yarns.  The piece was enormous and took up a lot of space in my place.  I ended up giving them to the only person who ever really appreciated their strange glory.  My friend Niki who has a clothing line called luxury jones.

She decided to use them in the background for her new fashion look book.  Check them out in the piles behind her models:

kitty corner

something wild

Here's some of the new vintage stuff I posted on my EBAY

check them out !!

Below are the things I am going to post for sale tomorrow...

the darkest doily

the May issue of Italian Vogue has this decadently morose fashion editorial by Craig McDean.  Something about their haunting eyes and powdered faces makes me want to paint.  I've always been inspired by doily doll faces and dyed grunge flowers.  How creepy does that make me?  Notice some of their knit gloves and tights combined with mosh pit boots.

“I was not looking for my dreams to interpret my life, but rather for my life to interpret my dreams.” (susan sontag)

Last night I was invited to the premiere screening in Los Angeles of Our City Dreams

an incredible documentary on five female artists who have chosen to create artwork in NYC.  Below is a summary:

Chiara Clemente, daughter of painter Francesco Clemente, follows five New York-based female artists for her documentary Our City Dreams. Swoon, Nancy Spero, Kiki Smith, Ghada Amer, and Maria Abramovich (all heavy hitters in the art world) were filmed over the course of two years as they lived and worked in New York City. Highlights of the film include:

Swoon’s first solo exhibition at Deitch Projects in New York, Ghada Amer’s return to her Egyptian homeland, Kiki Smith’s traveling retrospective, Marina Abramovic’s weeklong series of performances at the Guggenheim Museum in New York and Nancy Spero’s preparations of a new piece for the 2007 Venice Biennale.

  My friend Tanya Selvaratnam produced the film.  This is a must see for artists who want to be inspired ( much like the film the Beautiful Losers).  I wanted to skip the after party and rush home and clear a space to create things.  The audience was filled with creative women artists, designers and performers.

Something sweetly nostalgic from my college painting years came flooding back while watching.  That feminist instinct that permeated all of my school projects in the 90's awakened.  Many of the women in the film have inspired my work, some of their books still on my shelves.

One of the artists featured in the film, Kiki Smith was a huge influence in my college work.  I was fascinated by her mastery of so many mediums.  Her wax body figures, sculptures, etched drawings and installations appear like stolen precious artifacts from a magical period of time.  Watching her in this new film riding her bike in the city with her long wavy grey hair made me envious.  I thought, "I hope to live like that someday".  Stopping along the way to remove some lovely drawer handles for future projects.  

below some of Kiki's work

The film reminded me of that documentary film on artist Alice Neal.  You may recall I posted the trailer to that film because it touched me.  The notion that as a women artist you are faced with the challenge of raising a family or creating art.  That theme is presented a few times in Our City Dreams as well.  Young artist Swoon is shown working away in her studio.  Sawdust flying around, hanging her silkscreened pieces floating from threads.  The energy is contagious.  Her desire to create til the sun comes up.  Swoon is later quoted as saying she's  “too consumed by art to start a family”—

above is Swoon's collaboration raft project

“I did art because I didn’t want to die,” says the restless painter Ghada Amer

Ghada Amer embroidered large canvas panels

You can check out her show from the Deitch gallery here!

Marina Abramovic  is the only performance artist in the film.  She has been called the Grandmother of the art form.  

Nancy Spero also featured in this film is the oldest of the women artists.  Her dedication and passionate love affair with her art and her husband (deceased artist Leon Golub)

YOU SHOULD go and see this film!! Check for listings

it's only playing til the 14th I think...

Laemmle's Music Hall 3
Beverly Hills, CA, 90211
(310) 274-6869
(12:20 PM), 2:40 PM, 5:00 PM, 7:20 PM, 9:40 PM

and check out more about the director here

bbq #1

this past sunday Fran kicked off the first of many summer fun BBQ parties.  The ladies and gents all came by and admired Fran's fantastic feast.  She not only makes martha stuart like flower arrangements...but is quite the hostess.  We all passed out after a day of sangria, roasted chickens, potato salad, fresh fruit compote and red velvet cake!  All of these pics are by Taylor Brittenham (hot blonde) because my camera is still R.I.P.

xo

bye things...it's been fun

this apartment isn't big enough for all of us, so you gotta go.  I have been walking around in this insane heat muttering like little edie.  I'm serious, the more stuff I have surrounding me the hotter & crazier it seems.  I know that you need a set of fine bone china OWL tea mugs...so get bidding.

So once again it's round 3 of spring cleaning.  I may finally clear out the crafts and clutter for good.

Check stuff out HERE and also on my etsy site here