Just Beautiful

I just had to share this.

I love Designers who create sculpture and turn Fashion into Art.

This is so over the top and Fabulous

Here are a couple of my favorites and of course, the shoes.....oh the shoes!

The Good Earth

I'm a Farmer!

Dad plowed the garden spot yesterday

After years of city life, It's good to finally feel the earth between my toes again

 I have to design the layout still, but tomorrow I'm going shopping for seeds and starters. I'm planning on putting in perennials and making beds. Someday I hope it will look as neat and tidy as the pictures below.

I'm excited!!!!

People skills

I say hello with a cracked expression, was that a smile? I think "avoid eye contact next time". Ugh, this is painful! You speak of fighting and cheating and new residences and as I'm listening to your horrible life I'm reminded just how much I dislike you. You act like we are friends because we are associated through our common rabble, but, I know you hate me. I'm not sure why.  I don't care all that much, but I do wonder why you bother. You talk about him. He is this and he is that; from the moment I met you. You know he flirted with me once? You say you caught him chatting with fat girls online --- hmmm, that must be why. It all makes sense now. I know you think I'm a fat girl. You know I flirted back? (because I so totally respect you) "If that's what he wants why would he be with this" you say gesturing to your new boobs. Yeah, I think you do know. (Keep your enemies closer).

What do I have that you don't? Why would your husband prefer me?

I understand that you aren't happy. How could someone so self absorbed, someone who trash talks (even her best friend) be a happy person?

I'm scanning the room now, looking for an opening, a way out, I've got to get out! The air is getting hotter (you're blowing a lot of it). The walls are closing in and I need a drink. Hey it was great seeing you, the pain in my face is back and I don't hide it. Let me know how it turns out, and when you've broken up for good, give him my number.

One of my friends says I don't have very good people skills, my Mother says I'm not very tolerant, I say I'm honest. If I don't like you, it's very easy to read.

I consider that a man's brain (I'll say life here) originally is like a little empty attic, and you have to stock it with such furniture as you choose. A fool takes in all the lumber (people) of every sort that he comes across, so that the knowledge (joy) which might be useful to him gets crowded out, or at best is jumbled up with a lot of other things, so that he has a difficulty in laying his hands upon it.
....Sherlock Holmes....

And now you all know just how Cat-like I can be.


I wrote the above after a very frustrating night with a woman I have a very hard time with. She is married to a very attractive man, I don't think she is pretty, or  nice, or affectionate, or nice, or a descent person, or nice... at all!!!!! She has a super hot body though. Especially with those extremely large new fake boobies. It's women like this that make me truly annoyed with their husbands.

Here is my problem. The majority (I'd say all, but it sounds so dramatic) of men that are interested in me these days, are MARRIED. They look at what they've got at home and then they look at me and wish they hadn't been so stupid and why oh why didn't I wait for someone so wonderful as you? So this is why the wives hate me and I very rarely have any married girlfriends. (The ones I do have are just as amazing as I am and so they are secure in their relationships). And this is why I'm continuing to lose faith in the male species. Gosh Mr., I know I'm pretty cool, I have real boobs and a little bit of fat, and I'm smart and I'm kind, and I'm patient, and yes you ARE an idiot. So no matter how attractive you are, you are still super stupid. I'm looking for an equal, get lost!

So, the Sherlock quote- I make it a point to avoid people that suck my life force with their negativity. The above person is a very good example of an emotional vampire, and although I give everyone a chance to show me their good points, there comes a point when you have to start wearing garlic. I've reached it with her, obviously.

I don't waste a lot of time in the shallows, deep is were I dwell and all those who prefer the murk are welcome to join me.

전사

I just happened to be in a restaurant and saw the mixed martial arts competitions on the many TVs that were distracting the diners from actual human conversation. I learned of a fighter named Benson Henderson. Not only is he quite adorable,

Very much so I think--it's to bad I'm so old and he doesn't know me and we don't live near each other and we aren't married. :)

but he also has something quite interesting tattooed on his arm. I noticed this after the initial drool.

It's Korean and it's a word I didn't know. (and of course he's half Korean) So I had to come home and look it up, here is what I found.

1. 1. 1. champion
   1. 2. warrior
   1. 3. transcription
   1. 4. fighter
   1. 5. champ
   1. 6. brave

Ok, well then, way to secretly put it out there. He has very subtly labeled himself (in a not so subtle way). The cool thing, is that he is a champion. I wonder at what point in his career he got the tattoo?
So at a completely different time, I was looking up inspiring athletes and I found this picture of another mixed martial artist. Her name is Gina Carano and she has the same word in English on her shorts. Now I'm sure this is a common word used in this line of athletics, but it's a really great word.

She is just beautiful-so strong and powerful

I'm know they use it as a motivation device. Benson probably looks in the mirror at his tat and says "that's right, I am a Warrior, and don't you forget it" He's also put it there for everyone to see. It's like he's letting the world know it's a fact, cause it's right there on his skin.
I have been working pretty hard lately, studying Korean and working on other self improvement projects. I love that the word was in Korean because I actually had to do the work to translate it. That's how one becomes 전사  by doing what it takes to earn the label. These two probably had a little natural talent, but they have worked super hard to get where they are.  They've made mistakes and been knocked down, but they didn't quit, they got up and started again. So.......Here I go.....저는 질리안 보웬이에요. 전사 난되고  싶어요.  노력하고  공부해요, 친구들이같이  하국말 싶어요. 저는 사진 속의 여자처럼되구  싶어요, 강하고  강력한. 저는  할 수있어요. 

There's the beginning. I'm sure I've made mistakes, but I will keep fighting for myself. 화이팅!

Research

I've been making a lot of costumes lately and so I've been combing the web in search of inspiration. I've found enough fodder to last me a good while, gosh I just love the information highway :)  I thought I'd post some of my favorites so you all could appreciate the beauty as well. I think that the time between 1905 and 1915 produced some of the most exquisite gowns in history.....

.....and so here they are for you to enjoy.

I love black and white, beads and lace, and of course the little slip of a train that makes this formal. I have always wished that we still dressed like this and had fancy parties and events to go to that call for this level of grandeur. (actually they still do in Switzerland, there is a Ball season every winter)

The posture and tiny waists are achieved through corset wearing. This silhouette has a definite S shape to it and rearranges your insides so that your stomach is located in your neck. It's a small price to pay for beauty.

This gown is by Charles Worth, he's one of the most talented designers in all the history of the world. Can you tell I love him? The detail that goes into one of his pieces is just amazing. He didn't do it all himself, he had help, but his lackeys had to be just as skilled as he was. Look at this dress, it was done long before machine embroidery was ever available. I just think of the hours it took to do all this by hand, thank goodness for modern technology.

Another Worth Creation

The Hats in this era were Fabulous!!!!

I love this dress!! Lovely, lovely, lovely

 The asymmetry is one of my favorite details with most of these designs, it makes them interesting as well as stunning.

This one is my all time favorite.

Well, I could probably keep posting forever, there are so many pieces from this time period that have made it into this century, so there's lots of great stuff to drool over. I got the chance about ten years ago to go to the V&A museum in London and see the costume display there. I literally had my nose pressed to the glass the whole time. It was heaven to see, in fact I could spend countless days there and never tire of it. I'll leave you with one more

Ok, I lied, two :) How often do you see something this fantastic in Orange?

*I'm done*

Slave to Fashion

Aren't we rediculous? I can't help but love the ever changing shapes, as much as they never work for my body, though ^ .^

Kenichiwa

These pictures are in Tokyo and Kyoto. I unfortunately wasn't the photographer of these two top pictures. When I lived in Korea I went to Japan a few times and I think it's beautiful, but I didn't get to go to the places that I wanted to. I was in Fukuoka three times for visa renewals, but that wasn't so bad. It's not really a touristy place so I got to see some real, small town, every day village life. The first time I was there, I saw a bunch of men running through the streets wearing the sumo wrestling underpants (I don't know the real name). They were carrying huge paper scultures and taking them to the nearby temples. I had forgotten my camera on that trip. It was quite a site, I just stood in the street watching all these half naked men running by and I couldn't help but wish my MOM was there with me. Ha! Fukuoka is really quite lovely, each time I was there I wandered into a new part of town and discovered new places. Once I was there while the cherry blossoms were blooming and I found this beautiful park with a lake and Koi fish. The sun was warm, the sea air was fresh, and I just walked and walked. I found a used book store and bought Kabuki magazines and Geisha book marks and beautiful paper. The second time I went to Fukuoka, I was on vacation with two of my friends. We found a museum that showcased artistic renditions of Japanese Monster Lore -scary stuff- which inspired a popular cartoon about a demon who's father was his eyeball and it would pop out of his head to help him from time to time. We went to a Buddhist Temple and offered incense and said a prayer and of course went shopping. We went to a famous noodle house where you had to sit in solitary booths and eat by yourself, even though we all went together. This time I had my camera. I took this picture secretly under my curtain. I couldn't see who gave me my noodles. Japanese culture was very different then Korea's. I'm not going to point out how many differences there are, but let's just say, when I needed to have some privacy, Japan provided it.

There is a trough running down the middle for the noodle preparers to stand and anonymously feed you

 While there I bought a beautiful silk Kimono, one of my dreams is to have traditional dress from the various places I visit, so one down about a million to go. My friends and I played dress up in our hotel room. I'm looking out the window at Hakata Train Station. I'm not wearing my Kimono properly, but my nose looks wonderful doesn't it? Anywho, one of my next goals is to figure out how to tie an Obi. 

 So one of the coolest things was seeing the huge paper sculptures up close. They were still on display at different sites around town. The Japanese make such beautiful paper and paper crafts. I bought as much paper as I could afford, which really wasn't much but it was enough cause I had no idea what I was going to do with it. I just knew I wanted some.

Notice the intricate patterns, so pretty

Close up with more detail

There are so many different Japanese crafts to try out (like the intricate paper dolls called Washi Ningyo) which I'd like to try someday. I was wondering what to do with my newly bought paper and I remembered the hair ornaments worn by Geisha called Tsumami Kanzashi. These are traditionally made of silk and rice paste, but I decided my paper would work. So I started experimenting. This head piece is really elaborate, but for everyday wear, by some one not of the Flower and Willow World, totally impractical. So beautiful though, and I wanted to capture the same feel without being super ecentric. 

This piece was made by Kuniko Kanawa ,found on Etsy

So this is what I came up with. I'm actually still playing with finishes, but I like the way they are turning out. Simple but beautiful and they give a very elegant air to what ever they are worn with.

I'm still researching different methods and trying to figure out some of the more complicated pieces -that are so amazing- but for now I'm happy with my results.

Japan is a place I will definately go back to. I wanted to go as I was leaving Korea, but a month before I was scheduled to leave the Tsunami hit. Many of my friends said that I should have gone because the Airplane tickets were so cheap, but I didn't feel right about being a tourist in a mourning country. It's a beautiful place and it truly inspires me. Someday I will go to Kyoto, I'll go in the Spring time when the blossoms are out. Yes I definately will.