Out Of Africa

On Thursday night I went to the Hollywood Theater to see two documentaries put together by the founders of the record label, Sublime Frequencies.  The short films recorded their journeys through Niger and India. I always thought that I wanted to visit India.  I love all the photos I've seen of the markets and colorful clothes and beautiful people, but watching the film made me dizzy with all the people and constant movement and noise.  It was pretty overwelming just to watch on a screen.

The film on Niger was a little more slow moving since he filmed in rural areas.  The people seem to live out in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by desert and marshland, but most of the film showed them dancing, singing and playing instruments, making the most of what they had.  It seemed that they did not use power sources for day to day life, however they had microphone and electric guitars and amplifiers and portable stereos.  If that was the only thing they used a power source for, I think it is really telling on what they find important- music and art and each others company.  It was really beautiful.

All the women were dancing around in head scarves and floor length dresses in the most amazing colors and patterns.  I love African fabrics and the way they are mixed and matched, for not having much, they make the most out of what they have, dressing beautifully and painting their rustic houses with bright colors and geometric shapes and enjoying music.  The film was very inspiring.

You can watch the film here...

Check out Hisham Mayet's other videos here

I am loving these fabrics...

Here are some photos from Duro Olowu's fall 2011 collection taken from Style.com featuring ethnic prints and some amazing fabric combinations, giving a modern twist to traditional African dress.

These clothes from Jonathan Saunders' Fall 2011 collection, also taken from Style.com, have a great mix of colors and patterns, though the silouette are much more modern.

Inspiration

I am loving this spread from the May issue of W magazine.  The gorgeous photographs are by Solve Sundsbo and the amazing styling by Lori Goldstein....

    I want to dress like this everyday in a city with filled with  building covered in
    psychedelic patterns as  my backdrop.

My Saturday- Extinct volcanoes, crows, and cold blooded killers

Yesterday was divine, with temperatures nearing 70, it felt almost hot.  I did some sewing in the morning and then I enjoyed a sunshiney walk to Mt. Tabor, our friendly neighborhood volcano.  Friendly, because it hasn't erupted in quite a long time.  I walked up to the reservoir and found a nice tree to sit under and read Swamplandia! which is a gorgeous and fantastical and a little scary.

                                         Briar Rose Skirt by Love To Love You on Etsy

                                   Enchanted Forest Skirt by Love To Love You on Etsy
I found this great woodland inspired fabric at Cool Cottons on Hawthorne.  They get the most amazing japanese fabrics.  I want all of them!

Say hello to my drinking water

my ceiling

What I'm reading...

On my way to the park, I passed this tree full of crows, having a crow convention.  I love seeing them all in a group together.  Some evenings you can see dozens of them flying in one direction and it seems like they all have a place that they meet up to talk about the days events.  I wish I could understand what they are cawing about.

Then I came home and watched a really intense movie called Night Of The Hunter that was really beautiful, surreal and creepy. It was made Robert Mitchum makes a really great bad guy with the words love and hate tattooed across his knuckle (in the 1930s) and an ever present switchblade knife in his pocket.  He had me a little afraid to turn out the lights and go to bed.

Bunny Love

Yesterday we had a handsome houseguest with gorgeous eyes and luscious black hair.  His name is Stew and he's a dreamboat- and a bunny.

Ladies and gentlemen, may I present Stew.
He is Harper's class bunny, and he gets to go home with students on the weekends.  This time he was good and didn't chew up the internet cable, he just nibbled on some houseplants.  

Harper giving Stew (more) rabbit ears

I think he looks good in our house.  I think we should get to keep him.

This weekend was my first softball practice for the Mississippi Wreckers.  I was a little rusty having not picked up a ball since last August, but it was so much fun to be back in the field.   It was a rare sunny spring day which was even better.

This is the team photo from the Wreckers first season, two years ago.  We were last in the league that year, but we still look pretty happy in this photo.  I'm the one crouching down on the far left.  This is the only time you will see a photo of me in a pair of shorts.

The first year we were last place and last year we made it to the playoffs, so at the rate we are improving, I think League Champions is a possibility this year.

I've managed to fit in some sewing around softball and petting a bunny.  Here is a photo of my newest creation.

Soul Sister Dress

I cut up an African dashiki and used it for the top of the dress and backing to the pockets and I LOVE the way it turned out.  Now I am on the hunt for more dashikis.

Finally....

so, i set up this page shortly after the new year, it being one of my new years resolutions to start a blog.  aaaaand, now it's April, it's about time right?  i can justify it by saying that it's the start of my 31st year, since i had my birthday a week ago.  so, maybe I'm right on time.


so, why a blog?  i want to share a little bit about myself with my awesome customers.  i think it's nice to know where your clothes are coming from, and what inspired them.  also, so my friends and family can see what I am up to since most of us live far away from each other.  so, i hope you all enjoy a little peek into my life.


today is warmest day we have had all year, and it is making our first blooms very very happy.

i'm going to sit on the porch now, and soak up the sunshine.