1-26-11

what i'm into lately:
working on my new sewing space. it's a garage in hayes valley, that apparently has never housed a car, or not for a long time. previous tenants have included a set designer and a florist. that's ali, painting the back wall gold....john divola photography. the guy came to my college ages ago to give a presentation of his work, and i happened to be there at the lecture ages ago. i've been visiting his site for ages. his work is so california; so un-pretentious, just a guy with a camera. he's been shooting since the 1970's and has series names like 'dogs chasing my car in the desert,' or 'as far as i could get.' and sewing. always sewing... i made ali a bag like mine (original on the left), and i made miss lexie a skirt. i hope she sends photos...

**currently listening to patience & prudence's tonight you belong to me.

1-21-11

i just set down patti smith's, just kids. i loved reading about a young patti, she was sweet and insecure, named her outfits, and idolized bob dylan. mesmerizing read, you don't need to be familiar with her music to enjoy the book...

1-1-11

once the holidays take hold, everything else gets put on the back-burner and you side step through a whirlwind of family, friends and food. though i didn't manage to do much sewing, i did do a few creative projects over break (including family portrait christmas cards).
my friends adrienne and lia are musicians, and asked me if i wouldn't mind shooting some promo shots for them. i obliged, as these would be great for my portfolio, and spent two lovely days playing dress-up around my apartment and setting my SLR to good use. both ladies had very different aesthetic inspirations, lia wanting a more freida khalo-esque vibe, and adrienne a bohemian/cool, and at times silent film star quality. i think we succeeded in referencing these, while avoiding costume-y looks. there are many different looks, but these shots were my favorite. i love lia's smile and would give anything for adrienne's hair!i've also been designing my website, caught a couple of colds, went snowing for new years... on top of all this, my friend ali and i are renting a garage-turned-studio to open a sewing workshop and store. that's the wonderful ali below, showing her wonder in our wonderful studio.