Now Playing ...

Picked up Elliott Smith's New Moon today ... includes a wonderful cover of 'Thirteen' by Big Star.

Goal for the week: create something.

Bring On the Altered Curiosities!

Last year, I was lucky enough to take a 'Tainted Toys' class from Jane Wynn at Artfest. So imagine my joy today to see that her first book, 'Altered Curiosities: Assemblage Techniques & Projects' is being published ... and available for pre-order! Already ordered my copy, of course.

My 'tainted toy' from Jane's class, Artfest 2006 ...

Impromptu Art Class ...

One plus of working a 'straight job' is that you sometimes get good employee discounts and, while I don't need that many copies of [insert product here], I've found that my friends are often in need of stuff and that can lead to some fun barter situations.

In this particular case, I leveraged my bro-in-law's employee discount for Roberta Lee Woods, my artist-friend in Santa Cruz. Originally, the plan was product in exchange for a piece of artwork but instead she offered to give me a 1-on-1 collage workshop. Sold!

So, Saturday, drove over the hill and made my first attempts at collage.

To start things off, Roberta grabbed a piece of BFK paper and wet it down so that the paint would flow ... then it was my job to start making a big sheet of background paper ...



After ripping the paper into smaller sections, it was time to bring out the glue & paper bits ...

My first collage attempt:



And, after some encouragement from Roberta to work a bit larger ...

My second collage attempt:



Hmm, maybe I'll frame this one. Whatcha' think?

Retail Therapy ...

Sometimes, the best thing is to take a lunchtime field trip to the local record store. Luckily, what used to be Tower is now Rasputins and only 10 minutes away from work.






Today's purchases ...

Sufjan Stevens
'Greetings From Michigan The Great Lake State'



Hall & Oates
'The Very Best Of ...'
A friend pointed out they were popular at the same time as Prince and Rick James and it seemed like the perfect guilty pleasure purchase.

Mano Negra
'Puta's Fever'



Paul McCartney
'Memory Almost Full'
Because, well, just had to ... it's Macca.


Lavender Diamond
'Imagine Our Love'
This fits the 'random, unknown purchase' slot ... found it on the 'Rasputin's Recommends' endcap and caught something about them being reminiscent of AM pop while scanning the lil' write-up ... sold. Fit the "I need some Summer" bill.

DIY T ...

Last Friday, a friend & I went to the Vivienne Westwood exhibit at The de Young in SF. I had already been thinking about trying my hand at altering some Tshirts, but after seeing Vivienne's work I was more inspired than ever ... not to mention the fact that after seeing true DIY fashion that was worn by The Sex Pistols, Siouxsie Sioux and the like there was no way I was going to pay $$ for a faux punk T from the museum store. Instead, I bought a new pair of shears, grabbed one of the Ts I picked up at SXSW this year and sat down at the sewing machine ...

It started with the 'Generation T' book and some sketches ...



I decided to go for the girlie-T ... seemed fitting for T advertising a Japanese all-girl rock band, Gitogito Hustler ...





Then it was time to start cutting & pinning. I cut the bottom hem off - then cut two additional strips to use as "ties" in the side-rouching (found this technique in the 'Generation T' book). After that - sliced up both sides - including through the sleeves.



Next, time to pin up the sides and sew some channels in order to thread the T strips through in order to create the rouching ...







Then, some more trimming of the collar and sleeves before a few last-minute gathers ...





And, Voila! The new Gitogito Hustler T ...



Even wore it to work ...