April 2006 Archives

Sometimes you need a fresh start in order to get anything done. I cleaned like a mother on Saturday morning- purging all stagnent creative feelings as well. When I was done, I felt like a weight had been lifted. I can't wait for the garage to be converted into a usuable studio. Then you'll know where I'll be.

Sidenote- I can't wait until Gnarls Barkley's new album comes out- Dangermouse and Cee-lo together- what's not to like?

Sunset at Newport courtesy of Lauren

"Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it"
- Henry David Thoreau

So I will say that I am not looking for success- I am too busy. I am busy creating this weekend so that I can forget that I am passing up Coachella and Supercross in Washington due to lack of funds. But hopefully I will have a whole bunch of things done instead.

ah the mighty koi fish purse

And there are still two more. I will be done with the infamous box o' purses soon. Then I really should work on real paintings. I haven't painted a large canvas in so long- I'm starting to think that I am avoiding it because I have forgotten how. I guess the attraction with painting small things is that you can be done with it in one or two nights. When I was in high school we used to work on canvases for months at a time- makes sense. Its a somewhat
reflective process where you put your heart and soul into it- well at least I did. Purses are just fluffy pieces that I enjoy to do. More like a hobby. Paintings are work- good cathartic work but work nevertheless. Just in case you were wondering.

P.S.- Say a prayer for Moe Moe's dad- he has taken a turn the worse and for my brother who popped his hip out of place trying to do a crazy flip- he may have to have surgery.

Skull and Flowers purse

Peacock purse

I have two more for you after these two purses. I told you that I have been obsessed- because this has all been done in a three day period. Want to know what else I am obsessed with? Ok, I am obsessed with Prince. Thats right- Mr. Purple Rain himself. I love how androgynous he is and who doesn't like his spiked heel boots? Right now I am working on a gold clutch that wishes Prince would adorn it and a bright gold Carmen Miranda purse. The only problem is that I want to keep all the purses that I have painted. What to do?

Geisha purse

Spraycan purse

Strawberry purse

Here are some of the purses that I have been painting or rather, obsessed with. As a result of my Ebay addiction , I have a large cardboard box filled with vintage clutches just begging to be painted. So I have decided to put myself on Ebay restriction. I am not allowed to buy any new purses until I have painted all the ones in the box- that should keep me busy for awhile (I hope). And they will be on sale on Voz's site soon too.

On a completely random tip- I am loving VH1 Classic late at night. I just saw Duran Duran- Wild Boys, Hall and Oates, Dio, Aha and Cyndi Lauper in one block. And the videos are just so cheesy that you can't help but watch. Its like a train wreck baby- you just can't look away.

Underneath the Pier- courtesy of my sister Lauren

I have been really busy again. Thats the way I like it though. Days where there are a million things that I have to do- are the nights when I get the best sleep. Things are still getting installed in my house. And I hope to have window coverings in my room soon because if I wake up to see a bunch of workers staring at me one more time someone is going to get it. Seriously I would like to wake up without wondering who is that outside my window. I am just biding time until we can start work on the RING OF FIRE (fire pit) outside. Then its party at my house- yeah, everyone will be invited. I want to post the pictures of my room and my new tattoo- but alas I have not figured out my printer yet-ok, ok I haven't really tried because I keep thinking that someone else will do it- right...

So I will leave you with a little list of things I have been feeling:

- Pin-up girl pictures- i want to cover my vanity with pin-up pictures and then put huge crystal like knobs on it.

- Painting vintage clutches- so far I have done a koi with water, strawberries, a peacock, a skull with flowers around it, and I have base-coated a geisha one

- art days- Melinda and I had a couple of art hours that is on Saturday- its fun to paint with someone else- except the time goes too quickly

- Besame Cosmetics- for the pin-up girl in you- retro packaging and colors. I wonder if I would look good in red lipstick?

- Target- I found some cool clothes there this weekend

- Receiving packages in the mail- it could be why I continue with my Ebay obsession- bad, bad I tell you

I am off to figure out how to paint Prince on a clutch. Has anyone ever seen Under A Cherry Moon? It's androgyny and Prince at his finest!

My cousin/sister Emilie- who normally doesn't look so crazy. But when I pulled out my camera this is what she did- its camera karma baby.

I thought about my cousins, my sister and I last night. How no one and nothing not even distance can break the bond we have with each other. We take care of each other and are the supportive group that we didn't have as kids. We are the positive in a land of negative. We cheer each other on and hold each other when we are hurt. We all grew up with each other and all have our roles in this mock-family. Me the oldest- the maternal one. Emilie the driven. Lauren the steadfast. April the dreamer. Anthony-Ray the true. And yet, we are so much more. All of us have dealt with hard times, negative people trying to bring us down, and tragedy- I am just glad that we have each other. Because even though we are spread apart- one about to graduate college, one with one year left, one already graduated, one about to enter college, and another pursuing her makeup artist dreams, I know that with one call we are together again. It took me awhile to understand that we were all the family that we needed. I am proud of us.

velas

This weekend was a blur. It was hurry up and clean and not get enough done, pick up my sister at the airport, go to the pirate show, visit my mom for a blink and you'd miss it minute, got ready for my uncle's wedding, speed to Long Beach and hit the best bumpy road ever, socialize with people (saw my dad's best friend), had a good time with my cousins, hurry up to wait for a tattoo artist that didn't show up, walk around the beach with mom's family and ran with Jazz and then crashed. Too fast I say.

But first things first, the pirate show was fanfrickingtastic. Cheesy? Yes. But hilarious. But people were really excited about it- I mean people came in with their own eye patches and hats and everything. Think Medieval Times with pirates- the story line was lame- but pirates are just kickass like that. It might just be best while a little tipsy. In fact I am sure of it.

As for the tattoo, I have an appointment for Thursday night. By myself and at first I was a little apprehensive. But its all good now- I can handle this mess. I forget that I like the tattooing process.

Through the windshield

This weekend is going to be crazy busy. I have a house to clean, laundry to do and no washer and dryer, a pirate show to go to, an uncle's wedding, a tattoo to get and Easter to attend to. I am getting tired just listing my to do's. So here is a list to tide you over until Sunday night (where I hopefully post some before and after shots of my ever evolving room).

What I am listening to: Flipsyde, Jack's Mannequin and Wolfmother among others

What I am thinking about: I am thikning about Miami Ink and how the art show they had on Tuesday's show was kickass. A photographer took high fashion photos and the tattoo artists drew all over them. I really want to do that. Now all I need are some poster sized photos and paint pens- oh and time, always time.

What I am eating: A rice cake with peanut butter

What I am drinking: mint tea from my Bee House teapot that my cousin gave me

What I am reading(perusing really): Tease- a book with millions of ideas on how to make a plain t-shirt into much more

Lauren, Me, Naoko, Liz (mom) and Melinda with a beautful lady from Lucky Cheng's

Ok, so it looks like my blog had given up on me. Movable Type must have figured that I was never going to write again- give me a little time buddy. So I am back and since I last wrote- I am finally back in my house again- so nice. Although I have been working furiously ever since to get the house painted, re-organized and clean. I'm going to let you in on the madness that is renovation pretty soon- meaning I will post some pictures.

And it was my birthday! The big 2 5 people. I remember thinking that 25 was old- now I realize its just the beginning. So much that I want to do and so little time.