The Moldy Doily

and then along came Gilly...

Sometimes it takes a little time to heal and sometimes it just takes a new friend to ease the pain.  Justin and decided to check out the local desert animal shelters for a new companion pal for Georgie boy.  We stumbled upon a 5 month old tabby tiger girl with a lot of spunk.   I am typing this with one hand while a new cat purrs on my chest. We brought her home and so far so good.  He has followed her around as she explores the place, and neither seems to mind the other.  I can already tell they will be good friends in the future.

Georgie reacted to the new kitty... by hiding under the bed.  She however was fearless and not phased by his size and pranced around the house bumping faces with him numerous times.

Our good friend Laura came to visit up here in the desert.  We had a great time exploring thrift shops in palm springs and antique malls all over yucca valley and eating BBQ at Pappy and Harriets.  We hit the mother lode when we stumbled upon a real cowboy posse riding horses in Pioneertown and a cool estate sale.  The estate sale we went to in Pioneertown had tons of crystals and rocks for super cheap!  We scored weird shells and drift wood to make crafts as well as painted gourds that would impress Yayoi Kusama!  We kept kicking ourselves for not seeing the flyers for this sale on Thursday (when it first started)  The loot that other garage sale people were carrying off made us green with envy.  The town was re-enacting old Saloon scenes complete with brothel ladies, shooting cowboys and comedy acts.

it was hard to say goodbye to Laura, Gilly had formed quite a cat crush on her.  She followed her around and came whenever Laura called her.  

Gilly seems super excited by all the new space, new things to explore and of course people.  She hasn't left our sides since we brought her home.  She wants to be curled up in a lap no matter what.  I think she's a really good addition to our family.  

heartbroken

I woke up in the middle of the night and went to the kitchen and was greeted by my pal Largent. He followed me into the bathroom where he collapsed into my lap.  Weirdly I felt like we had a "moment" .  He seemed relieved that I had woke up.  The past few days he had barely eaten his food, and seemed to retreat to one spot.  Justin and I had decided maybe he was sick, and figured we should take him to the vet.  We put him in the carrier today, and sat in the waiting room with other cats in distress.  He calmly stood there and occasionally pushed his face into my fingers as I tried to comfort him.  When the nurse called us back, Justin thought I might be too emotional to go in so I stayed in the lobby.  (I tend to get anxious when it comes to our cats in cages and such)  After 40 minutes, he asked me to come back into Largent's room.  Our cat was not there, and I was informed they were doing an X-ray and then blood work.  About 10 minutes later the doctor came in and said that he couldn't explain why Largent's condition had deteriorated so quickly but that he was barely breathing on his own and that his organs seems stressed.  I don't remember much else about what he was explaining, I just know that he was saying in so many words, he's probably not going to make it through this.  I just kept thinking I was letting him down. He was such an emotional cat and I wanted him to know that I was there.  When the doctor asked if we wanted to see him again before we left, we looked at eachother for a moment before replying.  Truthfully I was so scared, not knowing what state he might be in.  But I knew there was no way I was leaving without petting him one last time.  Laying on the table with tubes down his throat he looked at me, and I couldn't help but start crying.  This cat, named after a Seattle Seahawks football star...was the reason that my husband and I became close.  We adopted him together and we moved in together so that our cats would have company.  He was from a shelter and had obviously been abused physically and emotionally.  He had half a tail and abandonment issues.  We loved and adored him and would often remark that he won the "cat lottery" with owners like us.  When we moved out here to the desert he was so happy.  Always staring at the birds outside. I would like to think that there was nothing I could've done today to save him.  I cannot stop sobbing and thought posting these pictures might make me feel better.

   

He really loved to bury his face into the kitchen table and take naps

sorry some of these are sideways...

s

I am going to remember your fascination with shoes and feet.  The way you would bury your face in the bottom of a shoe and go to sleep.  I am going to remember the way your little toes trotted across the wood floors like tap shoes.  I'm going to remember the way you loved the sunshine.  I will always picture you rolling on your back near the window practically smiling.  Hoping you know how much we loved you.  R.I.P Largie.

62 miles to heaven

Today the hubby and I decided to go daytripping an hour from our new house.  We drove down some dirty backroads for less than an hour and landed in BIG BEAR!  I have never been, and couldn't believe that the snow capped mountains and ski resort with giant lakes and mountains exists so close.  We saw lots of cool little cabins and strange bear sculptures everywhere.  I'm going to venture back there soon and explore all the little shops and weird bars.  The drive is pretty EPIC, so many scary cliffs edge turns and winding streets.  I think the altitude was around 6000 feet!  Nothing like warm weather, a giant lake, and nothing to do for weeks and weeks ahead

land of the lost and good friends

One of my oldest friends came to visit us!  She was in town for Coachella/work trip, and drove in to see our place, make us pasta and drink beer on the porch.  We've been pals since the 2nd grade Catholic school days.  She was not prepared for my Hubby's 2 mile hikes around the neighborhood.  The landscape out here is pretty surreal, and the sunsets have been EPIC!  Tonight is also a full moon, and let me tell you this one looks MASSIVE out here hanging in the sky.  Justin just showed me a new app for the i-phone called StarWalk which is super cool...you can walk around pointing the phone toward the sky and it tells you where the zodiac signs are, the constellations and the planets.  

ooops sideways?

Drag Queen Giants Make great ART

This past week I was in Los Angeles for 24 hours.  I had decided that I wanted to check out the new JUDITH SUPINE show at New Image Art. I've been a fan since seeing "her" work at Miami Art Aqua and my party days in Brooklyn (where wheat pasted neon faces adorned the walls of old brick buildings).  Every inch of the gallery was covered in printed lips and huge cut outs of haunting faces - even the floor.  Heavily made up ladyboys , most around 6 foot 6 were scattered all around the room in fabulous studded outfits.  

gallery owner Marsea Goldberg!

at the end of the night, I ran into this "lady" waiting for the bus.  She seems like she would've fit right in at the art show.  

Rebel Yell

This is what happens when you spend a whole weekend with  Cynthia listening to BLONDIE day and night.  Watching videos of Blondie singing live in Europe...Atomic, Denis, One way or Another...Sunday Girl. It might also have something to do with discovering my VHS copy of FOXES with Cheri Currie as well. Hmmm.  So far I am discovering that Blondes DO have more fun.  I was dubious but I do feel more rebellious.  Normally when I do things at the hair salon NO ONE even notices, but not this time.  This one has stirred up some responses, my mother for instance said "hmmm, I don't think I like it"  haha.  A few friends have said they LOVE it and a few have said..."missing L.A. that much?"  Ouch.  Oh well...I'd rather be sporting crazy hair that provokes such dialogue then my old faithful hair.

might have to invest in some more black eye liner?

to Japan with LOVE from L.A.!

I donated a few pieces of my work this past week for a super group show to raise money for Japan.  The art show will be up for 2 weeks at Urban Outfitters Space 1520 pop up shop.  Donations from talented designers, artists and musicians are pouring in, including some of my all time favorites like Susan Cianciolo, Justin Van Hoy, Travis Millard, Mel Kadel, Ashley Macomber,Albert Reyes, Geoff Mcfetridge, and Frohawk-two feathers!  

I have been to Japan a few times to do art shows and fell in love with the people, the country and the energy.  Please try to come out for this and show your support!

necklaces above by Dream Collective (Kathryn Bentley)  

home sweet weird

I am starting to get used to the daily routine here.  I wake up and drink an iced coffee, I look at pretty cactus plants and watch wild animals scurry past my yard.  I have started to take long walks and generally end up catching a nap midday.I have been listening to my old records again, and checking out some of my old books.  It's like a perpetual vacation mode that takes a little bit of getting used too.  I find my brain trying to multitask things, attempting to organize things.  Something about these long peaceful days that my brain is still unable to process. I want to finish setting up my art space and supplies and get down to creative business.  These past 8 months I struggled to find alone time to make things.  Inspiration is everywhere out here! Every day here is sort of like a Twin Peaks episode. There are cowboys, quilters, psychedelic artisans, mysterious drifters. So far I like all of them.  I see interesting things all day that make me wonder why these other folks have dropped out of society and decided to make a nest here?  I find myself having more genuine conversations, and am often fascinated by the locals handiwork. Some of my favorite things I have discovered within 5 minutes of my home are:

this guy created a crystal castle- sort of a volcanic molten home with glass peep windows to view clusters and caverns of crystals and rocks

The day before Cynthia and I ventured into Desert Hot Springs and Palm Springs...

Gypsyland had all kinds of treasures

saw this cool Picasso like sculpture in Palm Springs. 

we drank sangria and ate giant hamburgers and checked out lots of little shops

earlier in the day it actually SNOWED up at our house!  so amazing!

when I wandered down the path and saw this enormous purple ape I asked "what's up with this?" and a local simply said "they just got it today and their filling it up with air"  Ooops, my bad. I should have known grape apes are totally norm out here.

Vacation to L.A.

This past week the hubby and I had to drive back to L.A. to clear out the last of our things at the old place.  It was bittersweet, considering we got married in that back yard...but also nice to know we have tons of new adventures ahead.  Since I was going to be working the SHOW PONY sale at 1520 space on Sunday and he had a meeting for work on Monday, we decided to stay at the Roosevelt Hotel on Hollywood Blvd and relax.  It felt like we were tourists in our own city!   Here's some of the weekend highlights...

if you have never tried a Beard Papa pastry, do yourself a favor and indulge.  I discovered these in Japan about 6 years ago.  Highly addictive.   This town has so many crazy characters roaming the streets.  If I were a parent I would probably never let my kid near some of these costumed crazies.

Even though our trip was fun, it was sure nice to drive back to our desert place.  There are no words to describe how awesome the sunsets are

did I mention that while in L.A. I decided to make my hair as crazy as the desert life?  I decided what the hell- you only live once...

It's definitely a work in progress...

the Wake Up

Sadly I can't even remember the last time I posted on my blog!  But so many things have happened since, It has been one incredibly busy year working as the Costume Designer for 90210, getting married, and buying our first home. I have been exhausted! And I've missed posting on the Moldy Doily. I've been stockpiling images and cool things to share with you for months and months...but alas haven't had the time to post.  Tomorrow I am driving up to Los Angeles to have a big MOVING away sale with all of  my old Show Pony friends.  The event is being held in the courtyard of 1520 Space near Urban Outfitters.  Here's the SHOW PONY Gypsy sale info

I am getting rid of clothes, artwork, fun home decor and more!  I am getting rid of about 75% of my belongings, and am so happy about the BIG move to Yucca Valley near Joshua Tree.  I have been slowly getting our new house together and can't wait to start making artwork with my time off.  The new art space has a huge window that faces the desert, and olive trees.  Here are some images of what it looks like...

This is the guest bedroom!  So relaxing and it faces the whole desert landscape.  There is also a cute porch attached to the front of the guest room with its own door.  I have been having so much fun potting plants and repainting furniture.





We went into town today and found a cool flea market, and scored these 1950's wood chairs.  They needed a good sanding, staining and then reupholstering.  I LOVE the way they came out.

I love all the antique shops here in town.  here's some pics I took while exploring...




I finally feel like my brain is rebooting.  I often wonder how to get started with all the things I have been putting off doing.  I like this new feeling of being lighter.  There has definitely been a great lift coming out here, less distractions.  It was hard to empty that house these past few weeks, so many memories there in Echo Park for me.  I found boxes of photos, past art show flyers, destroyed garments buried in boxes and was flooded with memories.  While getting gas across the street from my old apartment, I couldn't help but stare up at the old fire escape and reminisce about my old friends...most who have moved away by now.  It's strange getting older, being inspired by new things- and new places.  It's good to finally be in a place where I can sit down and share all of the images I took this season.  I look forward to these quiet days ahead, I've missed this.