My dirty little secret. Or one of them, anyway. I get fashion magazines. I don't read them. I mostly rip out the photos that inspire me for whatever reason - techniques, colors, mise en scene, make up or fashion choices, whatever. It's true. Ask anyone who has had to live with me and my tidal wave of unorganized, disembodied magazine photo shoot pics. Those things are slippery in the dark on cheap pergo flooring, did you know that?
Anyways. I don't read them. Except for those cheezy little celebrity interviews. Not the in depth ones with accompanying photos of the celebrity in their humble abodes, or playing with their purebred whatever terriers, or posing nonchalantly in front of the collection of awards show statuettes. No, the little one pagers, where a series of questions are listed and a series of short answers given. They almost always include one question about cosmetics. I love those interviews. I guess because it seems so sort of whimsical and ridiculous, to try to fit anything pithy in that one page. Also, I think they have a sort of ritualistic feel, like call and response songs. I can't really explain it, yet, but I'm working on it. I was reading one today and I was thinking, "They really only work if you are a celebrity; I mean who cares what's in my purse, right??" But then I realized, who cares what's in my purse? Why YOU do, of course! So here it is, what you've been waiting for -
On My Mind, with Lynelle Miliate
Who are you itching to work with? Anyone who will pay me to do something. Really.
Beauty Essentials? Well, since I haven't had hot water in 6 months and can only sneak in showers at people's houses about once a week right now.... Shampoo and conditioner in one. It saves time when you are washing in your hair in icy tap water. Also, any body lotion with a really strong scent. I'm using a variety of Bath and Body Works ones in dessert flavors right now. Moisturizer with sunblock, because I take care of my skin.
Recent Splurge? I don't splurge. At least not on things that cost money. But I do try to enjoy little things more. This morning I ate breakfast at the kitchen sink, which sounds lame, except the light in there is really beautiful at dawn, so I ate in silence and enjoyed the moment.
Fashion Faves? I like t-shirts with nerdy sayings that no one really gets, except other nerds. Like "Si, se habla Old Norse." I'd like more. I want one that references thac0, and maybe one in 1337. And also, booty shorts.
Necessary extravagance? Food that's not ramen, which is what I would live on, but I'm totally afraid of getting scurvy. So I break it up with fruits and veggies when the budget will allow. I'm a fan of the Fresh N' Easy clearance food aisle.
Happy I bought? Those caramels - don't you read my blog? Sheesh!
Favorite work out? Kung Fu, from 2 to 5 times a week. I'm working on getting long staves of wood broken on my arms and legs. It's one of the many iron body kungs.
Jonesing for? The Unagi at Musashis, it's been over 6 months since I've tasted it. And cream puffs. Good ones, from a French or Russian bakery. Really fresh, ripe fruit.
Hooked on? Dollhouse, but those mother effers over at FOX are cancelling it, like the cancel ANY and EVERY show I develop any sort of connection with. And, by the way, ever notice how the really awesome shows that get cancelled always have really empowered women? This happens to me every season and I'm about to really lose my interest in TV. Bastards.
Driving? Nope.
In my bag? Ha, you were waiting for it, weren't you???
Here it is, the short list:
A journal.
a date book.
6 pens, 2 of which are sharpies and 2 of which are archival safe. The other two are neon jellies.
the little vintage metal card holder that keeps my credit cards safe.
7 dollars in singles, held together with a paper clip.
lotion that smells like hot chocolate.
3 different lip glosses, all in an almost identical shade of pink? Why? I can't explain it, I'm pretty sure I buy other colors but they all turn into pink in my bag.
2 tampons, because it's better to be safe than sorry.
Moisturizer with sunblock, because I take care of my skin.
Now you have a very personal and profound look into my inner workings. I don't share this info with everyone, just the 9 of you who actively read my blog.
Namaste, or whatever.
Thursday, January 07, 2010
Sunday, January 03, 2010
My seal of approval: Have It Confections
As I'm sure you've guessed, I don't buy stuff. Not that I don't want to, I just ain't got no money, honey! I mean, I have a wish list a mile long, but I don't indulge. So everyone on my Christmas list this year got things I baked myself: Grandma Mary's haystacks, cranberry brownies and even some fancy vinegars that I put up with herbs from my garden.
I did, however, make one small purchase this Christmas, and it was sooooo tasty that it has my everlasting seal of approval. See, I don't make caramels. I tried, once, and it was such a huge sad mess that I swore it off forever. So when I wanted to get some for a family member who doesn't like chocolate, I went to Have It Confections. What hooked me were the photos. I know (for a fact) that good product photography comes cheap these days, so I shouldn't judge a book by it's cover, but what can I say? When the photos made me salivate, I knew they were the right ones!
I got an order of the uncut Fleur de Sel Caramels. Why uncut? I told myself it was because the lack of individual wrappers was better for the environment. The truth? Because I knew we were just going to pass them around, taking big bites. Was I wrong? Nope. Individual wrappers just get in the way. And soooo tasty! Rich, sweet, and the sea salt (that's what fleur de sel is, for my cro magnon friends) makes such a bright counterpoint, it's like a tiny spark on the tongue. Delish. And a soft, not overly sticky texture, which is a selling point for me. I hate having stuff stuck in my teeth for days.
Fleur De Sel is kind of classic as a flavor choice. I thought it was a good starting off point to dive into the world of tasty, gourmet caramels. The control group for any further flavored caramel experimentation, as it were. However, they also make spiced vanilla caramels, caramels flavored with tea, pecan pie caramels, organic ginger bread caramels (the ones I am currently lusting after the most) and several other intriguing flavors. Plus marshmallows! And this gorgeous, French Hazelnut Nougat made with organic hazelnuts (and do I really care that they are organic? Did I really care about the environmental impact of the wrappers? Maybe not.) Egad! I do believe that Have It Confections may have sprung, fully formed and stocked, from some secret dessert fantasy I was having recently.
I'm telling you all this because it may be that you have some dire caramel emergency on your hands, and this little review will be helpful. Valentines Day is around the corner, people! Sweets for the sweet don't get better than a pound of excellent caramels. They also have a "confection of the month club!!" Just the thought of it makes me overheat with giddy desire!
One caveat: Because of the small batches and hands on quality of the product, it can take up to two weeks to fill your order. Although I will say that they filled my order in about a week, which was lovely because it takes me for ever to make up my mind about a purchase and I was almost too late for Christmas. Sheepish. So get those orders in, all of you who hunger for yumminess!
I did, however, make one small purchase this Christmas, and it was sooooo tasty that it has my everlasting seal of approval. See, I don't make caramels. I tried, once, and it was such a huge sad mess that I swore it off forever. So when I wanted to get some for a family member who doesn't like chocolate, I went to Have It Confections. What hooked me were the photos. I know (for a fact) that good product photography comes cheap these days, so I shouldn't judge a book by it's cover, but what can I say? When the photos made me salivate, I knew they were the right ones!
I got an order of the uncut Fleur de Sel Caramels. Why uncut? I told myself it was because the lack of individual wrappers was better for the environment. The truth? Because I knew we were just going to pass them around, taking big bites. Was I wrong? Nope. Individual wrappers just get in the way. And soooo tasty! Rich, sweet, and the sea salt (that's what fleur de sel is, for my cro magnon friends) makes such a bright counterpoint, it's like a tiny spark on the tongue. Delish. And a soft, not overly sticky texture, which is a selling point for me. I hate having stuff stuck in my teeth for days.
Fleur De Sel is kind of classic as a flavor choice. I thought it was a good starting off point to dive into the world of tasty, gourmet caramels. The control group for any further flavored caramel experimentation, as it were. However, they also make spiced vanilla caramels, caramels flavored with tea, pecan pie caramels, organic ginger bread caramels (the ones I am currently lusting after the most) and several other intriguing flavors. Plus marshmallows! And this gorgeous, French Hazelnut Nougat made with organic hazelnuts (and do I really care that they are organic? Did I really care about the environmental impact of the wrappers? Maybe not.) Egad! I do believe that Have It Confections may have sprung, fully formed and stocked, from some secret dessert fantasy I was having recently.
I'm telling you all this because it may be that you have some dire caramel emergency on your hands, and this little review will be helpful. Valentines Day is around the corner, people! Sweets for the sweet don't get better than a pound of excellent caramels. They also have a "confection of the month club!!" Just the thought of it makes me overheat with giddy desire!One caveat: Because of the small batches and hands on quality of the product, it can take up to two weeks to fill your order. Although I will say that they filled my order in about a week, which was lovely because it takes me for ever to make up my mind about a purchase and I was almost too late for Christmas. Sheepish. So get those orders in, all of you who hunger for yumminess!
Wednesday, December 09, 2009
This is what love looks like...
... If love is a thing that scratches at the bed room door until you let her in, then digs under the blankets till she nestles at your side and proceeds to try to lick at your armpit all night long. Or if love was the thing that warms its self in your kitchen window herb garden, and uproots the basil seedlings out of boredom. Or if love is the thing that runs all over the house at the sound of your voice, filling the air with taptaptaptap sounds as her bare little feet hit the wood floor. Which love is.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Carp pool
I took this at the San Diego Zoo, right as the light was almost gone. I wish the bubbles were snowflakes, but we can't have everything, you know.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Clink
I would like to direct your attention today to my friend LemonJitters who has kindly featured me in her tidy tuesday post! She is expounding on the delights of vintage glass as a way of organizing your liquids. I realize, upon rereading that sentence back, that I sound like an alien robot. So let me clarify: She is expounding on vintage glass as a way of organizing your liquids, Earth human. Anywho, LJ features my shop, Falcon and Finch, which, as you know, has an awful lot of vintage glass and china ware. This is because I am obsessed. Really. I stared selling vintage on Etsy almost strictly as a way to feed my obsession - my collection is constantly evolving, and I needed to make room!!
So I thought, as a sort of companion piece to LJ's post, I'd post a few pictures of some of my favorites!
Moon and Stars Sherbets in Ruby
This pattern, in this color, in this shape, is quite rare, and utterly to die for. These were the first things I sold at F&F. Pablo Neruda had a set, so you know they are classic.
I don't know who manufactured these swanky swigs - the silvery finish isn't unique to one maker, but on these old fashions it's in almost perfect condition. A rarity!
By the way, cocktail glasses are usually named after the drinks they were meant to hold. These are 'old fashion' glasses because in the hey day of cocktail inventing, they would have held an 'old fashion.' Now you learned something. I love how masculine these are, and soooo sexy. Yes, sexy.
Finally, I wanted to include a picture I took yesterday of a very small part of my collection. This shelf stands next to my project table and holds a rotating collection of bar ware, glass, and china. These objects often inspire my still life photographs or end up as props in various shoots.
Many of the pieces in this picture will end up at Falcon and Finch, except the peach colored Fire King carnival glasses in the center. Those were one of my first purchases, years ago, and they still fill my heart with a simple joy. The color is so sweet, and always reminds me of summer evenings.
Enjoy your beverages!
So I thought, as a sort of companion piece to LJ's post, I'd post a few pictures of some of my favorites!
Moon and Stars Sherbets in Ruby
This pattern, in this color, in this shape, is quite rare, and utterly to die for. These were the first things I sold at F&F. Pablo Neruda had a set, so you know they are classic.
I don't know who manufactured these swanky swigs - the silvery finish isn't unique to one maker, but on these old fashions it's in almost perfect condition. A rarity!
By the way, cocktail glasses are usually named after the drinks they were meant to hold. These are 'old fashion' glasses because in the hey day of cocktail inventing, they would have held an 'old fashion.' Now you learned something. I love how masculine these are, and soooo sexy. Yes, sexy.
Finally, I wanted to include a picture I took yesterday of a very small part of my collection. This shelf stands next to my project table and holds a rotating collection of bar ware, glass, and china. These objects often inspire my still life photographs or end up as props in various shoots.
Many of the pieces in this picture will end up at Falcon and Finch, except the peach colored Fire King carnival glasses in the center. Those were one of my first purchases, years ago, and they still fill my heart with a simple joy. The color is so sweet, and always reminds me of summer evenings.
Enjoy your beverages!
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Veteran's Day
I haven't been blogging per my usual self, I know - I'm in survival mode, with nearly all of my waking energies focused on keeping my house. However, I wanted to spend a few moments remembering and honoring veterans, especially my Grandpa Charles Waterbury. That's him, in the picture, shortly after WWII. Grandma always says he looked a little like Cary Grant.
He wasn't perfect, but as Grandma also says, "He said he would take care of me, and he did." The war left a permanent mark on him, I think, and I'll always honor him for the service he did for our country.
I also pay my respects in this blog to my stepdad, Dale, who is an Iraq War vet and a very good man.
He wasn't perfect, but as Grandma also says, "He said he would take care of me, and he did." The war left a permanent mark on him, I think, and I'll always honor him for the service he did for our country.
I also pay my respects in this blog to my stepdad, Dale, who is an Iraq War vet and a very good man.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Congratulations!
To Little Dead Mommy, the winner of my photo giveaway at Mrs. B's 31 Days of Halloween. Little Dead Mommy, or that Strange Little Stay at Home Mom, writes a very funny blog here, full of weird little finds and conversations with her uterus. Plus, she's pretty. So check it out!
Monday, October 26, 2009
Welcome Mrs. B's Followers!
Thank you for visiting my blog and etsy store. I'm really excited to be participating in one of Mrs. B's 31 days of Halloween giveaways - Halloween is my very favorite holiday of the year, and being a part of the 'Mrs. B' community has been so much fun.
The speed dating version of my bio: I have an MFA in photography and a Master's belt in Vietnamese Kung Fu. I live in LA and have traveled to some very interesting places, but my heart belongs to Scotland. And I'm a slave to my cats.
About my art: Like most artists, I can talk for hours about my art! Mostly I'm a photographer, and I also dabble a little in digital based photo illustrations.
The thesis for my MFA was a series of hand made, one of a kind books, based on traditional fairy tales and recontextualized to address the contemporary concerns of women. You will find a few of those in my shop under Grimmer Illustrations.
As for my photography... that's a little harder to define. I'm interested in the moment as we experience it. Making a photograph is a way for me to make something elusive - emotional or simply visual - concrete and permanent. There is a language, a kind of emotive code, at the root of the images I make, and I hope it speaks to the viewer. I'm very interested in folklore, fairy tale, and the still life paintings of the great European masters.
I have also recently opened a second shop, an outlet for my passionate love of all things old and dusty: Falcon and Finch. If you've managed to read through all of my nattering, then let me pass on a prize to you. Anyone purchasing something from either of my shops on Oct. 27 will receive %15 off (as a paypal refund, post purchase) if you enter "Mrs. B sent me" in the message to seller at checkout!
Thanks for visiting, and enjoy!
The speed dating version of my bio: I have an MFA in photography and a Master's belt in Vietnamese Kung Fu. I live in LA and have traveled to some very interesting places, but my heart belongs to Scotland. And I'm a slave to my cats.
About my art: Like most artists, I can talk for hours about my art! Mostly I'm a photographer, and I also dabble a little in digital based photo illustrations.
The thesis for my MFA was a series of hand made, one of a kind books, based on traditional fairy tales and recontextualized to address the contemporary concerns of women. You will find a few of those in my shop under Grimmer Illustrations.
As for my photography... that's a little harder to define. I'm interested in the moment as we experience it. Making a photograph is a way for me to make something elusive - emotional or simply visual - concrete and permanent. There is a language, a kind of emotive code, at the root of the images I make, and I hope it speaks to the viewer. I'm very interested in folklore, fairy tale, and the still life paintings of the great European masters.
I have also recently opened a second shop, an outlet for my passionate love of all things old and dusty: Falcon and Finch. If you've managed to read through all of my nattering, then let me pass on a prize to you. Anyone purchasing something from either of my shops on Oct. 27 will receive %15 off (as a paypal refund, post purchase) if you enter "Mrs. B sent me" in the message to seller at checkout!
Thanks for visiting, and enjoy!
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Dear Guy standing in line at the New Beverly Cinema,
Wearing a vintage leather cafe racer jacket does not make less nerdy the fact that you are waiting to buy tickets for a midnight Showing of Conan the Destroyer. #Nerdcamofail
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