Sam Harvey

Beards with Long Goats

2011-09-16T20:42:00.000-07:00

Did I tell you how much I love the smell of Dove soap? Oh crap it is not Dove it is Dial. Isn't it the same damn soap anyway?! I should just carve a hole into my bar of soap and where it around my neck. I LOVE IT! Well I bought it for my jacket that I am still making. You have to smear some Dove or other cheap ass soap on the seam before you iron it. I think because the soap has a waxy texture it fuses the fabric really nicely. Being the nob that I am I tried it. Works awesome. Doesn't my jacket look amazing! This photo was taken about 2 or 3 weeks ago. It doesn't even look like this now. Just looking at these old photos makes me feel so accomplished. Right now the jacket looks pretty much like it could be in the storefront of Chanel in Beverly Hills. It is so bomb I really can't stand it.

Me hand sewing the seam over the seam with carefully trimmed layers. I actually had to wait to go further until I ordered this corner miter iron wood gazapiz thing. This jacket is flawless. I actually wait and think about things. So not Lara.

These two babies are what I waited for to go further to turn this mutha out. NO I am not going to tell you step by step process - really you don't even want to know. Just the knowing of it all will make me levitate when I wear this jacket. The thing that sucks is that I haven't even started on the skirt. The skirt will be way easier but STILLLLLLLLLLL. HMMMMHUH. Goats will grow long gruffy beards before I finish this thing.

I will show you an update photo of the jacket soon. You can chew on this image for a while. NO, I am not going to take a photo for you now, it is dark now and you know how I hate flash photography. Why do I have a mesquito bite all of a sudden?

This is the coolest thing that happened to me yesterday. I was standing in Buckeye Valley in front of Pat Rovey's front door. I had finally been invited to somebody's home in Buckeye. I was really happy while I was driving to her house. She is such a sweet lady. She has been a farm girl all her life. Her parents built their 80 acre property originally in Phoenix when 19th Avenue was a dirt road. She told me how she used to watch the gypsies in wagons come and go when the original Rovey farm was located on Bethany Home. I initially met Pat when I was presenting the Park and Ride Project to the Buckeye Chamber of Commerce.

On my way out there I was imagining a solid built farm house. I was not disappointed when I found the 2 very tall palm trees that she had said to look for. The charming yellow house with gray trim was partially hidden with trees so full and tall, like they had been there forever. I wanted to wander around but I knew we had business to discuss. Too top secret to say right now. As I walked by her flower cushioned bench outside the open screened window I could hear the ladies inside saying "Oh there she is now!".

Pat had military green rubber boots sitting outside her front door. I loved that too.

This post is for Glenn, who called tonight and made me want to post. Thanks Glenn with 2 "n's"!

Walking with Jeffrey

2011-07-18T21:04:00.000-07:00

Jeffrey PUSHES me to explore new sights on Vashon Island. It is like Va as in Valley Girl and then Shawn. Jeffrey is always in the lead and I follow. If it were up to him we would walk all day. We were in Vashon Island last week. It was a nice break from the dust filled brown skies and extreme heat here in Goodyear, Arizona, my hometown.

This is an expert from my travel journal when Jeffrey and I went to Europe in 1994. This was my introduction to taking walks with Jeffrey.

RONCHAMP

We remember walking 20km (12 miles+/-) back to the hostel more than Ronchamp - The walk I will never forget, we walked through countryside, countless country homes and barking dogs. We started our walk at 7:30(pm) and made it back at 11:30(pm) - we were sore for days. Then the next day we were off to Paris for Yes - more walking. - Lara Serbin *yes me* 1994

You better be loving these photos because I carried my lug camera for about 7 miles up steep terrain, drift wood, pebble strewn beaches and sewer manhole covers that were made in India. You could throw your chutney down there.

This just wreaks of "I have the most ripped wood shop you ever saw." My sentiments exaclty.

Here on this narrow quiet rode, I guess you need something that stands out.

We are at our best when we are walking on a new road not knowing what to expect next.

This is my favorite one. Why you ask? These folks most likely use the peanut butter thing at the grocery store that chews all the little peanuts together and then it comes gooping out into the clear plastic container. These people don't buy pre-made peanut butter. You can't buy this. They preserve their own stawberry jams too I bet. I love what the green is doing for the red and what the red is doing for the green.

This is right beside the mailbox. I mean what the HALO! This is so amazing I can't stand it! STOP IT NOW! IT'S TOO GOOD FOR THIS BLOG.

Somebody forgot to close it before it rained again. I cannot believe you just said that! Why do you want to see the rain drops! Ok fine. I will be back in a minute. Only for you would I ever do this. We are so close.

I guess you are right. It is cool to see the raindrops on the mail window thing. It was amazing to see raindrops just sitting on things. Rain drops don't sit in Goodyear.

I didn't notice the old glove until I was back home working in my land of Photoshop. I crop each one of these photos you see. This is really a great example. I took this photo so fast. I think these same people might of made the LOST sign coming up.

Malarky.

Random sign along the rode. It is so twisting and densly wooded that they need these bright red maps along the way. Jeffrey of course had his GPS Iphone working for us. We were standing on the knee cap of this man shaped island.

THE NAVIGATOR.

Bound Button Holes Before Bed

2011-07-06T23:06:00.000-07:00

Ok I mastered the bound button last weekend. I know you have been wondering when or if I would get to this part of my couture jacket and skirt I have been making. The quilting is done so I decided to do the button holes before doing anything more. Even though it was tempting to just experiment with the jacket front that was quilted I forced myself to try my first bound button hole on a sample piece of tweed and silk.

If you have been following this blog you remember the jacket of last summer that I made. Look at this button hole! It is sad and lumpy. I really hate it! I hate it because you can see blackness when the coat is buttoned. BLASTED THING. I have been wanting to try this bound button for a long time.

Couture Sewing Techniques, Claire B. Shaeffer

Like roasting a chicken, I followed directions to the T. I mean to the tip of the T I followed it. You still awake? Go get your jammies on because this is going to take a while. You might even dream about this later. Trying to find your college class but never making it. You have a test for an Algebra class but you never found where the classroom is.

First, I ironed interfacing to the silk lining. This is the first one and kind of puckered later. For the final button holes I stretched all the bias out of the silk by spraying it with water and then ironed it quick so it wouldn't ruin the shee shee silk. Oh and you have to do this silk piece on the bias! Bias is setting the fabric at a 45 degree angle.

Notice the placement for the edge to edge button hole is basted by hand with the white thread. I cut the silk with the interfacing the size of a business card.

Then I had to copy the same spacing onto my silk piece. It gets better. You and your whole family could climb into a snuggy and read this together before bed.

Then I traced 1/8" offset from the center horizontal line. It's a good thing I am an architect.

Then I hand basted on top of my traced pencil line. At this point pencil is the safest thing to use. After all this work if marker got on the silk *which it did a tiny green dot* it really sucks.

Machine sew the rectangle. For all my sewer friends I suggest going really slow with needle down. CONTROL.

Now cut the button hole with a sharp exacto blade. Amateurs beware, it takes a steady hand.

Pull the whole thing inside out and sew up the middle by hand.

This is my first one ever. The bound side is a little crooked, but the next three that I performed on the final jacket are much better. I must say that even someone like myself who has been handy with the exacto since birth, it was impossible to get my button holes exactly the same. For the most part they look the same.

When I completed this I started humming Gypsy Kings like I used to do in architecture studio.

http://youtu.be/oNgSeJzLJFc

Hugo Montenegro Rocks

2011-06-15T20:22:00.000-07:00

This week just gets better and better. I think it was Tuesday that I had somebody drive up the hill to buy a Sam Harvey bag. I have never met this woman either. It was a referral from one of my wonderful repeat clients. I didn't think she was coming so I just continued working on my overcrowded thumb tack of a desk in the middle of the freeway of my house. Yes, folks you guessed it. She showed. As she waited on my round dining table I brought out all my boxes of bags. The one I am showing is the one she picked. This bag is not even on the http://www.sam-harvey.com/ website. It was an experiment bag.

Miss Pen Pen likes to knock those candle sticks over. OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH PEN!

Oh by the way, I made that black top I am wearing too. Shabam! See that framed thing on the right. Right before I gave her the amount due I showed her the framed thing that I glued all the pieces that goes into a Sam Harvey bag. She was impressed. You really want me to go dig that photo out of th archives don't you... Ok, for you I will do it. Be right back.

Funny how bandana fabric inside goes with my Hugo Montenegro on a continuous loop I have going right now. The Good, The Bad, The Ugly. Are you feeling it yet? It felt so great to see her so happy with one of my bags. She said she loved the strap length. It is true that most handbags worth anything to talk about these days have really short straps.

Makes me want to make some more bags.

Channel Terry Gross

2011-05-24T23:32:00.000-07:00

Terry Gross, photo credit Will Ryan

Have any of you ever listened to Terry Gross on Fresh Air? I have been listening to her for the last decade religiously. She is part of my daily ritual. Now that I have my Ipad, I listen to her whenever I want. I am addicted. My favorite interviews to date have been Martin Short, South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, and the latest Jimmy Fallon.

If Terry interviewed me it would go something like this...

Terry:

With us today is my guest Lara Serbin founder of Sam Harvey a fashion line of hand sewn design products and co-founder of Serbin Studio an architectural firm. Lara Serbin, welcome to the show.

Lara:

Thank you Terry. I cannot believe I am sitting here with you. I love the sound of your voice. You have been my companion through countless design projects for the last decade. Thank you for being so committed to your craft. I have noticed that you always pin point someone's deepest secrets when you interview them. They cannot hide from you. You go for the jugular.

Terry:

"Crisp chuckle." It has taken years to perfect it. I don't notice it anymore. It just happens naturally that my guests want to reveal themselves to me.

Lara:

They feel comfortable with you. It shows.

Terry:

Tell us about Sam Harvey. What is it exactly?

Lara:

It started out as Hanukah presents for my family a couple years back. I had lost my way with Serbin Studio and it seemed that it was going to stop all together. I literally brought my sewing machine into the archtectural studio one day and just started sewing to get my mind off of the dead silence of the phones not ringing.

Terry:

Why the name Sam Harvey?

Lara:

Sam Harvey is an androgynous name. Jeffrey and I don't have to limit ourselves in terms of design. Sam Harris Parke was my Baptist great grandfather who was a sheriff in a county in North Carolina. Harvey Nep was my Jewish grandfather from Los Angeles who was a food buyer for a discount chain store and then a sales manager for the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. In the 1960's Harvey opened a full scale dinner house called King Neptune on Mission Bay.

Terry:

You must have been very brave to start something so new in such a depressed time.

Lara:

Jeffrey and I needed to get our minds off of architecture for a while. We knew we were missing something with Serbin Studio. A missing ingredient or something.

Terry:

Maybe a corned beef sandwhich?

Lara:

Hah! Nice put away shot! It felt good to make up something to keep us busy at that time. We were working on designing patterns for these quilted bags kind of like Vera Bradley bags but cooler and better engineered. Except when it came time to cut each piece and assemble we started to understand how labor intensive it was to produce a bag that won't rip apart when you start loading it and carrying it.

Terry:

I read through some of your blog posts and it seems that you enjoyed making them and picking out fabrics. You even designed your own metal hardware I noticed.

Lara:

I can't say there was a time when anything we produced for Sam Harvey was profitable. The whole chapter was one of exploration. I felt like I had started as a junior in a new high school and had to make friends.

Terry:

You marketed to local spas in Arizona. You and Jeff even went to ISPA in Texas at one point.

Lara

I felt like we needed to commit to something in order to make Sam Harvey work. I realized that Sam Harvey bags were not fetching the price that they deserved. There was one spa in Paradise Valley in particular that I had a very unfortunate meeting. The spa director, a young woman didn't even make eye contact with me when I spoke to her. Some spa directors forgot that I had even scheduled meetings with them.

Terry:

From the looks of your postings it doesn't look like you are sewing bags anymore. Seems like you have been doing more watercolors and designing for Serbin Studio.

Lara:

Once I know we are going down a dead end, I can quickly change course. I wasn't about to start a production overseas to bring the cost of the bags down. I definitely didn't want to start a life of showing my bags at craft shows for a living. After being an architect for so long, I have to say that I missed my professional status of saying that I was an architect. I missed dressing like an architect. I missed my white starched dress shirts, khaki pants and black mary janes. I was used to being treated with respect and being paid for what I am worth.

Terry:

From the looks of things, Serbin Studio is headed towards great things.

Lara:

Thanks Terry. Just talking with your has been amazing. I have a new appreciation for being an architect. I want Serbin Studio to succeed above all else. I learned valuable lessons from trying to make it in the retail business. Who knows, maybe Sam Harvey can tie into Serbin Studio someday. Fashion and architecture. For now bag production has stopped.

Terry:

Looks like you still love to sew.

Lara:

That will never stop. I have to have a personal sewing project I can loose myself in. As long I spend about an hour a day sewing, I am a happy architect!

Terry:

It's been great having you on the show. I look forward to hearing more about your designs whether in the fashion or architecture world.

Lara:

Thanks for interviewing such amazing people in the past Terry. You will continue to inspire and amaze me.

360

2011-05-23T23:20:00.000-07:00

Tonight I took Eva and Lily my girls to PF Changs for dinner. This is a typical Monday evening for us after dance class. As we are going through the circular glass door thing that spins around 360 *which I have no clue why you would need this in Arizona with all the hurricane activity* which I dread because Lily always makes it spin like 3-4 times. Eva and I will be in the lobby and Lily will keep going round and round slowly while her greasy fingers are mashed up against the freshly windexed curved glass. Well this time the round door just haulted stop with lily wedged somewhere in the middle. She was ready for Willie Wonka to suck her up to the blue berry gobstopper machine or what in the hell I don't know. I felt myself loosing my cool. I looked behind me in the reception and my eye stopped on this attractive young couple. Mind you I am pretty dead sure that the woman was about 3 months pregnant. I said to them, "This is what you have to look forward to!" They looked at each other and giggled. Then I laughed in my big hardy har har way *which might I add it quite contagious*.

Lily and Eva were well behaved but then they kind of lost it while I was waiting to pay. Lily was laying down in the booth and sticking her feet up the sides of the upholstery. Then I swear Eva did this world federation body slam on Lil and then the couple next to our booth stopped eating and stared at us. I am proud to say that they have some Nep in them after all. You could never take Erik and I out to dinner or anywhere for that matter when we were that age. We were a mess.

Lil and Eva

For those that care *and I know you secretly do* my quilting on my skirt and jacket are slowly but steadily getting finished. Just the sleeve of the jacket took the entire weekend. Just quilting that is.

Special thank you to Christine Jonson for sending some free knit fabrics my way. Christine is on the cover of last months Threads magazine. She designs her own patterns for garments. She mainly focuses on knit fabrics which she sells on her online boutique. She is truly a creative genius. Her patterns are very straight forward. It took many trial and error but I have my favorite patterns from her website like for simple tops, skirts which I just repeat over and over with different knits.

The most amazing part of sewing a Jonson pattern is that the end result is something you can keep in your closet forever. The most well sewn quality garment you will every have. I love mixing and matching my pieces. I like her patterns too because I can sew a top in about 3 hours. SHAM WOW. I know.

Latest trip to Garlands in Oak Creek Canyon, AZ. This was not our cabin but I like this one.

Roundabout

2011-04-27T22:21:00.000-07:00

Mademoiselle's team of house models in Moscow for the second Chanel show in Russia, 1967. I am the one on the right. YOU KNOW IT!

This is me hand tying the knots at the end of each machine permanent stitch. Tiger's legs. Her tail is unusually long. She likes to sit on my fabric as soon as I sit down.

This is what I am doing. A quilted lining. I am quilting each piece of my skirt and jacket before I even sew everything together. In this case my lining is the pink silk and the black tweed is my shell fabric. Get it? Kind of?

The permanent quilting is on the left. The right side is what I have left to do. Each time I stitch over the neon orange basting with my machine for a permanent stitch it takes about 10 minutes. This is becuase I am not back stitching with my machine. I leave long tails and I knot each end by hand.

The neon hand basting is along the sides of the pink stripes. I thought I would just follow the pattern. The basting is only temporary. I use black thread on the tweed side and pink thread on the silk lining side so my final permanent stitching will not be noticed.

Sewing for 30 minutes was the best part of today. The feeling of the silk and tweed coming together as one is quite awesome. See my hand basting with the neon thread above. I sew with my sewing machine over the orange basting. Once I am done quilting the silk to the tweed I will remove the neon thread. That, my dear, is what you call couture sewing or CRAZY TOWN.

This is just one piece of my jacket. I have a boat load more to go. I will be done with this suit when we can live on Mars.

Couture Sewing Techniques, Claire B. Shaeffer

Chanel Collections and Creations, Daniele Bott

The 2 things I would need if I had to wander the desert for 40 years.

Bound Button Holes

2011-04-25T23:32:00.000-07:00

My latest project is another couture chanel skirt and jacket using this amazing tweed I picked up from MOOD Fabrics in LA. No I am not showing the pattern. It is so late now! I don't even know where it is now! This project is going to be amazing. Why? I learned some tricks from Claire Shaeffer on how to make tailor knots and back stitches. These small details is huge in my world of couture garment making. For the last million years of my life I had been making knots and tying it like 10 times to get this huge knot ball to have at the end of my string. Claire taught me to just go in the way I entered. I am a sewing geek I know. For this years birthday I asked Mom to buy Shaeffer's DVD with footage of how to do some of these crazy details in her book that I had to read 10 million times but still did them wrong. This is how I get my kicks. Like I said, this time this jacket and skirt will be amazing. Like laser beams and shit.

It is so 11pm now and I just scanned this for you. This project should only take me about a year. I am serious. Now I know how to make a Tailor's Knot. I am super dangerous now. I pretty much sew one seam per day. The majority of my day is spent being an architect. I manage to squeeze in about an hour a day of sewing.

Claire, if you ever read this can you come over here and show me how to do a BOUND button hole. Why didn't you show this on your video? Baby steps. Second, you are a sewing GODDESS!

Box of Treasures

2011-04-08T19:58:00.000-07:00

A package arrived at my door this week that made me really happy.

Hey, Mom if you are reading this... the cactus you gave me is blooming. See?

Inside the box from Pennslyvania were lots of treasures sent from Nen and her sister Katy . These bloggers enjoy sharing their life in Pennsylvania. Their families support one another. Nen just had a baby girl and still managed to make this surprise so special. Whenever I read their blogs I feel good. It is that simple. Even though I have never spoken a word to them, I just know that they are kind hearted and sincere people. Baking, sewing, planting, knitting, blogging, home schooling their children also make them super talented. They are powerful creators.

How could you not like someone who sends you a package with a lettuce sticker on it. Too cool.

Eva and Lily loved the lambs. I would not let them open it. It sat on my entry chair for a couple of days until I was really ready to enjoy it. I have been going from morning mixer to town meeting non stop lately. There is a rumor that Serbin Studio our architectural firm will be launching a new blog soon. Hmmm. I wonder who will be blogging on it?

I finally had a gap of time and cracked it open. Man, I should have done it much sooner!

Chocolates from a local candy store Dan Smith's in Nen and Katy's hometown of Brookville, PA. Yeah, I know there is a missing chocolate in the golden box. I couldn't help myself. Trust me it was over the top! It WAS this malted chunk covered in the most delicious chocolate.

Chocoate BUNNY! Perfect for Eva and Lily's Easter baskets. The stock pile is growing. I am so glad I didn't have to buy the gangster bunny's at Walmart this year. Some of the chocolate bunny's out there are just scary. My bunny doesn't need gold teeth. REALLY!

This thing is heavy. I am glad this box didn't have a chance to sit outside. It is getting toasty over here. It is cooling down this weekend though. Maybe my tennis tournament will be cancelled tomorrow. Secretly....I thinking.... YES!

Katy knitted this dish cloth. She calls it a dish cloth. It is too gorgeous and well crafted to use on my dishes. I know you used garter picking for this.

Of course Tiger had to come sniff everything. I call her Tigerlette. Sounds like omelette. Tigerlette, Tigerlette, Tigerlette. Ok black cats are not the center of the planet anymore.

Nen made this lovely clay bowl.

Nen also made these gorgeous envelopes, owl stickers and cool card.

This was the first thing I ripped open. Confection popcorn didn't even make it into the staged photograph. Tastes like frosted popcorn. I think I was cackling when I ate it. I was totally craving chocolate that afternoon and I didn't have anything on hand.

Thank you to Nen and Katy. I send you my hugs from the desert. You brightened up my day!

Free Sweet Tea

2011-03-30T11:36:00.000-07:00

I'm just waiting for my tuna melt to melt you know. Just making conversation. It's the little things like how much Easter shit can you buy this season. I plan on going full tilt this year. I don't want to hear it ok. I know I am Jewish. Oh there is so much to learn. It's all good. Why wouldn't you want to put the Peep's in the microwave for fun.

I want to find some pink and green clear plastic and wrap the entire inside of my house so when eva and lil wake up it will look like the Alice in Wonderland ride. I think I used that analogy already, maybe more than once. Just deal. I bought some Steiff animals just because they have that yellow screw through their ear. Maybe the girls will really fall in love with lamby. they will probably fight over it. I want their baskets to be like the top of Marge Simpson's blue hair. Really blue and awkwardly tall. Tiny presents hidden in plastic grass that will take years of vacuming.

Mom used to make organic Easter baskets for Erik and I. Baby bunches of carrots with the green ends still on, carob raisins, goji berries covered in dried kefir, spiralina energy packs. Good times.

My inspirations for now...

I forgot where I tore this out.

This has been stuck in my head for 1000's of years. PLEASE MAKE IT STOP NOW!

Reading a biography on Henry Edward Huntington by James Thorpe.

Fashion Independent: The Original Style of Ann Bonfoey Taylor - anyone who could figure out how to own every size of Louis Vuitton luggage is bomb.

Theatre de la Mode, everything is miniature and that is a good thing

Woodsy Nerd

View 2, Textile Magazine Winter 10/11

Sombody please wear this look. And wear it like you mean it damn it.

It's sweet and it's free.

I Find It

2011-02-23T16:39:00.000-08:00

This billboard lives close to me. Most times I drive right past it just as I am driving up the desert mountain to go home. Sometimes just before the light turns green, I glance at it.

Raw beauty.

What did you just say....? You want to see a close up? Ok fine!

I know what you are thinking...SWEET!

Cheap Fun

2011-01-04T21:56:00.000-08:00

My new bag. Look at it...

I knew you would want to see this close up. So true.

Here is the first one. I gave it to Ron. It may just be at the bottom of his car by now.

Big enough for your pet squirrel.

I was just on my way to wipe down the inside of my car at like 10 o'clock at night because I am driving my client around tomorrow to look at really expensive kitchen appliances. Don't worry now! I will do it before I go to bed, gawd, you ride me!

Kids love to be in the car during an automatic car wash. Period. Cheap fun.

Lily said she wished it was longer and turned into a roller coaster. I told them it was a gigantic octopus devouring our car. My car is so full of dirt right now. What I really want to do is make Beouf Bourguignon with my Julia Child but it would be done at 1am. I will be stoned tired for my jaunt to Scottsdale and then my sleep will be bacon filled. Beef house. No way. I will wait till tomorrow I guess. So much for having dinner ready for when I get home.

What I really want to do is use my new pot I bought today at Williams Sonoma. When I was paying for it *not cheap fun* I told the apron clad honey it was BAD ASS!

Doesn't it just make you want to cook a roast in your jammies?

Let's Play... What's at the bottom of Lara's Car?

1. Green kazoo.
2. Mini CPK menu, you know the one.
3. One dirty sock.
4. Hunk of asphalt *Lily*.
5. Photo of Lara's Grandpa that she keeps avoiding getting framed.
6. Lulu Lemon shopping bag.
7. Mixed Nuts.
8. A plush snake that can be manipulated.
9. Digital camera, surprise surprise.
10. Lily's spelling word list.
11. Carousel of Pip Squeak markers no less than 30 colors at all times.
12. White board.

Dashboard has been wiped. Are you so happy with delight now!

Nighty night light bright.

Black with an Orange Zipper

2010-12-30T20:21:00.000-08:00

We are back from our Christmas in Washington with Nana and Papa. Erik my brother was there too which made it crazy fun. There were many BEST parts.

1. Walking 4 miles in the rainy mist with Jeffrey.

2. Me playing drums and Erik playing base at EMP.

3. Swedish Pancakes at Oak Table twice!

4. Mom's house smelling like meat all day...

5. Watching Oceans and falling asleep.

6. Learing how to knit *you know I couldn't NOT have a project!*

7. Drinking coffee all day.

8. Wearing rain boots.

9. Being cold.

10. Playing tennis in a bubble dome.

Tonight I FINALLY *LET'S EMPHASIS FINALLY* started my new zipper bag prototype. I am making the first one for Ron. He can use it for toiletries. He likes to travel. I am going black with gray and then an orange zipper. I hope he is at the New Year's Party tomorrow. It is the only way I will get this damn thing done is to give myself a deadline. Notice how this cheesy ass pink sweater from Costco is now my "designing a new bag" uniform. It should be easy right? RIGHT?! I said I would make a chocolate sponge cake from Julia Child too for New Years.

Eva making a Birthday card for Uncle Ron.

Not anybody has a "make your own bubble gum kit" next to their cereal.

Oh Lil.

My What Green Eye Liner You Have

2010-12-10T12:27:00.000-08:00

Nice arm rest ball thing?!

Um...that's why I have been so quiet. Yuh see now!

The only outlet that works for my Sam Harvey card swiper is by my bed table. I know what your thinking. NOW STOP IT!

Hot Wheels rule.

I mean really cool! The runners are going into bags now! Hah! Should I add a SAM HARVEY sticker to seal it?

I feel like celebrating! I am closing in on the custom runners for the Sanctuary Resort and Spa. I have a million mitered corners that could pass GO and collect $200 dollars but you know how you feel when you have a small amber popcorn sheath stuck in your back gum up against your tooth? It is annoying. You try to unstuck it with your tongue for hours and then try to use your pinky nail to get it out but you know you have to get out the dental floss to free your mind. YOU KNOW YOU HAVE TO! These mitered corners need to be hand stitched down. So I will retire to my sewing thrown on my mountain in the desert. Let's see... 15 runners each having 8 corners. I am talking 4 corners but back and front. I cannot give these runners up yet. They have to be perfect or I won't be able to live with myself.

I really love when I am in the middle of a stitch and I can't get up to fast forward through Chinese people torturing each other over some ancient lantern. I bought this new audio book called The Emperor's Tomb. I bought it thinking I would get visual sensations of ancient worlds underground the Chinese provences. I wanted to hear about archeological digs full of old chinese beads and broken lion statues and stuff but so far it is just water boarding torture. Merry Christmas. After spending just 5 minutes tying a knot to my needled thread I am not going to waste my time to fast forward through Hu Ching getting scalded by a fire pit below. WHATEVER! Cleopatra - A Life, is hard to top. Gawd that audio book was knock out good.

Hamburger Power

2010-12-09T16:36:00.000-08:00

How much shit could this guy in front of me ordered? He is taking forever. I am waiting for my cheeseburger from In-n-Out Burger. This is my spare time for this week. Fabian just took my $2.25 and his hands looked a little to shimmery. Ew. The fry cutter is in love with me. Off to tennis to unleash the horror...

Ready or Not Here I Come!

2010-12-03T14:36:00.000-08:00

Finished my 2,000 year long couture jacket project! Did I tell you how I hand stitched the interior lining during a car ride to Laguna Beach last summer! You could find me stitching on a ferris wheel at the fair. It fits really well. I have to say that I felt like a queen yesterday wearing it. It's first debut was Toys R Us. I bought a shit load of Chanukah gifts for the kids. It felt really good. I bought another Barbie for my collection. After shopping, I wore it to an architecture City of Phoenix meeting too.

I had some boucle left so I am making a skirt to match. I am so much faster now! I have tons of short cuts. I am going to make a light turquoise knit top to go with it. For yesterday I just wore a white Michael Stars t-shirt and you guessed it...WOLFORD tights.

Ehhem, yes, there is the gold chain hand sewn to the bottom hem of the coat. CHANELISMS ARE RAD! The gold buttons are brushed gold that I found at the LA Mood a couple of weeks ago. I bought some more boucle. Oh it is so sweet. It is mostly black but a little pink thread weaved throughout. It is crazy. I am really making my own clothes are actually wearing them!

I hang it while I drive so the seat belt strap doesn't snag the boucle. That's just me. The receptionist complimented me from her 16th floor outpost in the center of Phoenix and I just glowed! Wait till I finish the skirt. Planets will align.

If I had a band it would be like the Breeders. TOTALLY. But I would wear my tennis clothes.

Booth 43

2010-11-15T21:38:00.000-08:00

Samples of fabrics at my booth 43. Pray for booth 43. PLEASE!

My booth 43. I know I could do so much more. It just keeps getting better.

OMG...

I am so hyper! I don't know where to start! So many good things are happening. First I just bought some authentic empanadas from this panderia in dowtown Avondale. This little street called Western. Well Lil had to go pee really bad and I rushed into this bakery. Instantly, I started speaking Spanish fluently. Donde esta bano. IMPRESSIVE! It smelled yeasty, dusty and slightly sweet like a new donut. The lynoleum flooring in front of the lady sitting behind the counter was worn to the black. She said she knew no Ingles but then we had a great chat about a tortilla shack that folded. She had that "are you for real?" look on her face. All the girls cared about were the 25 cent toy machines by the door. Anyhow, I have some pinapple empanadas to try after my dinner of tostadas tonight.

I finished my runners for Sanctuary. Well not the whole assembley. I finished the sewing of all the rectangles together. I still have to cut out the trims and the backs for each one. I learned a thing or two about economy of movement. I conquered by sewing 2 pieces together, taking another pair sewing them together and so on. You had to be there. By lunch time I had fuzz and lint all over my black yoga pants. My sewing room is a whirl of turquoise lint. I had to roller tape my whole body. I feel so awesome.

Ok now I can properly end. Question... why do I sit on my chair when it is piled with books and papers. I know you want to know how the craft show went. Well I had to wait until I was happier to tell you about it. It only took a dose of Cadbury 'Chocolate Wars' story audible and the More Money Than God to set me straight. No sells. I spoke to about 50 people. I didn't sit once or eat. The time flew by. I attracted groups of people as I described my educational component. I mean what was I to expect by having only one price item at $85.00? Who does that?

I love thinking of the young Hershey experimenting with making his chocolate bar. Do you realize that he spent countless sleepless nights before coming up with the secret recipe? He failed so many times before coming up with his brilliant chocolate. Something to do with using sour condensed milk.

During the turn of the century, when Hershey was selling his product in Chicago he packed his cart full of sweets and was set to sell in the city. His whole supply was blown up when two guys stuffed his cart full of dynamite. He never gave up. He just came back stronger with each set back.

I want this to work. So bad!

Harvey Sensor

2010-11-11T15:16:00.000-08:00

Scary thing is they fit pretty well.

Lily wanted to eat by this tall beacon outside Paradise Bakery. We wanted to sit at the smallest table possible. It makes for better sharing.

Once you kill a cow, you gotta make a burger...Lady Gaga. I dare you to go to your nearest Paradise Bakery and just order all the roast beef they have.

I had a roast beef about 3 hours ago. I ate heaps of beef so I can unleash the terror tonight at Montecito Tennis Courts. Last week I had a melt down on the courts due to hunger. Doubles. Yay Hah!

The Harvey sensor went off when I spotted the American Cheese that was added to my roast beef sandwhich. If you are Jewish and own your own deli this is a major faux pah. Harvey would have piled my roast beef so high I couldn't have fit it in my mouth. Yes, that is Harvey as in SAM HARVEY.

You know it!

Car Is Packed

2010-11-05T22:20:00.000-07:00

This is me painting over my painting. Don't get crazy now, this is not the original!

I want a gray skirt and top in this color. Click.

Skibu helping me paint.

This is an improvement.

I am pretty stoked right now. I love when my car is totally packed the night before for my craft booth. This IS the night before. I made a camp fire in the courtyard with wood I personally cut down and sawed up into tiny pieces. The flames smelled like nutty, leathery, smoky *well that is original* and rich. The wood was super solid and it burned forever. The girls wanted smores but the marshmallows were totally stale. Don't ever try to taost stale marshmallows over an open fire. They taste like soft sweetish rubber pads.

Do you know that I am almost done with my Chanel coat!? A 9 month couture personal project. I am sewing in the chain right now. I had to tear out the shoulder pads. I looked like Frankenstien. But really it looks amazin'! I will post later. I want to wait until it is done. Gilted or black buttons?

Laser beams and sirens!

Errands

2010-11-05T21:52:00.000-07:00

If it was payday and you were sitting in your car...waiting...

What would you snack on?

Janet and I did the handoff today. She completed 8 more bags for the show for Saturday and some custom orders. I picked up my gray exciting paint from Dunn Edwards too. Don't think for a second that I sew everything myself. Janet is an amazing sewer. Is sewer and sewer as in a pipe the same thing? Semstress is a little outdated and reminds me of a flouncy lady wearing velvet leisure suits living in a house with way too much stained glass everywhere. There has to be a better word for sewer. I will go look it up. I will be right back. Hey! Don't go eat a bowl of Rice Krispies, I will be right back now you hear!

Dressmaker...not there yet. We don't make dresses right now. Bagmakers. Needleworkers. miracleworkers. chia pets...

Breakfast Helmets and Dum Dums

2010-11-01T22:54:00.000-07:00

This is really bad I know. What do you want for cobbling a costume together in all of 10 minutes IF THAT! Yes, I am pretending to be smoking a licorice. Can't you tell Jeffrey is a surfer and I am his goth girlfriend. Are you feeling it?

Breakfast helmets.

Eva stole the show with her blue rabbit.

Lily insisted on being a hippie chick but wanted the adult costume. She ripped the hole thing apart within minutes of this pose. She ran around trick or treating with the headband and that's about it. Clothed of course. Of course. Halloween is always at my brother's house. I made cole slaw and cornbread. Next year I need to make a second bowl of batter so I can drink it.

Every year my brother Erik tells the story. When we were kids. Not to far off. When we were kids, I secretly went into his trick or treat bag and took out a dum dum sucker. I went through each dum dum trying to pull off each head until I finally got one off without taking out a machete. I took out one of those Mrs. See's fudge squares unwrapped it and stuck it on the Dum Dum stick. I took the Dum Dum wrapper and wrapped it over the fudge square. I put it back in the stash and didn't say a word. A couple days later I hear this...LAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

Jeffrey wants you to know that is his reel hair.

Mr. Miyagi Made Me Do It

2010-10-30T22:40:00.000-07:00

My showing at Goodyear Marketplace is next Saturday! I am going to take a different approach. I am going to add some educational component to the display of my bags. I so modestly think that my bags are so well crafted that people don't believe that I make them myself. So...I am going to display each piece that goes into the assembly of a bag. I found a giclee of one of my large paintings. I am going to paint over it solid gray and then adhere the pieces. I can just have this gorgoeus thing at the booth. It is WAY better than having a big heap of crap in some corner. I also promise to be more hospitable and speak in italics. I will not sit or eat in my booth. I have really good feelings about italics. OK NOW I CAN'T STOP THE ITALICS DAMN IT ALL!

Finished bag. Lot of pieces! Crazy it you ponder.

Any takers for a full size poster of Mr. Miyagi? Now don't laugh...just watched 1986 Karate Kid today. I refused to see it over the last 1000 years. When it first came out I thought it repulsive. Now I can see me being karate kid with my tennis coach. In terms of my tennis I am not sure what menial tasks like painting Miyagi's wood fence could translate into the perfect back hand. Any suggestions? My movement to engrain is more like an exaggerated whip tail motion. The back of my hand should be kissing my cheek. My face cheek. Gawd! Totally... I want Mr. Myagi to be my tennis coach.

I wouldn't watch the newest 2010 version of Karate Kid if someone gave me front row ski lift tickets. Now that movie looks like pure crap. What, does he win the tournament by playing bi-polar wii karate. HIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIYAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Can you think of any better options than painting over my painting?

16 Hash Marks

2010-10-27T21:49:00.000-07:00

Hash marks are my thing these days. No not marking days off my calendar. I don't understand why people cross days off their calendar. It is like their life is a prison and they are trying to get out? No hash marks on my fabric rectangular patterns. It makes total sense. I was doing hash marks linear but then I had to count and recount every time I was done to make sure I had done all of them. Now I do sets of 4 hashes then another set of 4 down below. Seeing the sets of 4 helps me count faster to 16. Yes, I am making sixteen runners.

Today, I cut out 96 pieces. Oh and all my fabric from Kravet arrived today. I totally could have shopped for a more reasonable fabric from Kravet but I spare no expense for my designs. I really love the mossy colored linen that I am using for the trim and back of the runners. It is so rich and soft. The color is gorgeous too. I am in a cutting groove. My rotary blade is already dull so I have to press that much harder. It is only going to help build my tennis arm you know!

Cutting Rectangles

2010-10-25T22:06:00.000-07:00

I can't believe I forgot to eat gummy bears today while I was cutting 136 pieces of turquoise rectangles today. It didn't feel like I did anything today but then I counted. Now I feel pretty good. I am working on the runners for Sanctuary. This is my first real order for Sam Harvey. It is so much work but I am very proud to have it! Why did I make it so complex! I have to make 15 of them and one copy for myself. I want to get it done as soon as I can. Honestly, I can cut one color fabric out per day. There are about 10 different fabrics. Crazy that I haven't counted. I need a really long table to lay everything out but for now I am laying everything out on my ironing board. It is already full. I just afraid Skibu will decide to sit on them when I am not looking.

I don't even know where this day went. Blogs are going to get cryptic for the time being. That's probably a good thing for you. You won't have to wade through all my crap.

Hey, did I tell you that I won a tennis set off a High School guy last Saturday? Then I played again Saturday at the Phoenix Tennis Center with Jeffrey. That place is so cool but crusty on the edges. It had paintings of Kokopellis playing tennis in the locker room.

Everything will be alright though. You know why? Because I know Limehouse Blues was Jacqueline Kennedy's favorite song when she was a Deb. I copied it down when I was at the Kennedy Library while in Boston. Nerd alert!

New England Crafting - Part 3

2010-10-22T22:09:00.000-07:00

The craft shows were behind us at this point and I had tacked on an extra day to explore more of Boston with Jan and Eva. Jani took us to the South End, Little Italy of Boston.

I just threw this tavern shot from The Salem Cross Inn. I could sense that you wanted to see more. I just pick up on these things.

Since the Inn has been restrored by the Salem family, led by Richard Salem, the pun on the name decided the title of the Inn. Furnished throughout with American antiques, the Inn displays the nations only known operating Roasting Jack, a c. 1700 device the innkeepers use to cook beef, game and fowl at the huge hearths... this is what I read on the paper place mat while I waited for my filet mignon that was way to WELL DONE! CHARD!

The Salem Cross Inn

I swear I was just coming over here to shut my computer off and go to bed...

What! You can't see my new earrings from where you are standing. Close up coming soon. I think they look mo betta right next to The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum. This was before Little Italy. The North End is prettier. If you are a smart blogger like me, you put the pretty stuff first.

I asked Eva what her favorite part of traipsing through The White House Corridor, The Oval Office, The Kennedy Family, The First Lady *you know who's favorite that was* and her response was, "I liked the peanut butter and jelly pocket best!".

Space frame as you enter the last leg of the Kennedy Museum. It was abbreviated for us because we had so much more to see and do like...eating fresh cannoli's in the North End. If you ever have a fresh one, make sure they squeeze the white cheese stuff just when you order it. It should crumble all over the place as you eat it. That's when you know. You just know.

Space frame and Saints. Good way to end. Goodnight!

New England Crafting - Part 2

2010-10-21T19:53:00.000-07:00

Emily Dickinson's house in Amherst, Massachusetts. I know. I know. I was choked up when I snapped this. It was exactly 4 o'clock and the three crafty ladies, Jani, Eva and I were pretty wiped out after visiting hundreds of craft booths at Paradise City in New Hampshire. I liked the playhouse show in Vermont best because of the intimate scale.

Jani likes to take the scenic route. Eva was asleep in the back seat on top of the coat pile. I was camera ready when we drove past this abandoned pumpkin stand. Jani was taking us to dinner at a real "New England" restaurant called The Historic Salem Cross Inn which dates back to 1705. The name comes from the cross symbol on the door to ward off witches. It didn't ward off the cows though.

Salem Cross Inn, after dinner it looked like this.

This was along the road in front of the Salem Cross Inn. Salem Cross Inn would be the equivalent to Kokopelli over here is Arizona. You know.

18th Century Rockingham Meeting House. Vermont's most intact Puritan New England Meeting House. The nails on the white wood siding were hand hewn. The nail heads were all chiseled. Do you know what I mean? This is out of sequence but hey, it's ok.

I have lots of favorite moments as you can see. Wearing layers of clothing, seeing incredible craftsmanship at the shows, observing crowds of people flocking over hand made items, having breakfast at Jani's house, the smell of Jani's house, the floor boards creaking as I walked from the bathroom to the room Eva and I were sleeping in, Eva snuggling me while we slept, not having to cook, being on an adventure, seeing old buildings, autumn colored leaves, old buildings, old buildings, going to J McLaughlin, visiting this crazy artist who sewed all kinds of plastic toy crap to these quilts that looked amazing and old buildings. VARIETY is a good thing. Agree?

New England Crafting - Part I

2010-10-15T23:58:00.000-07:00

Jani drove us from Boston to Vermont. She was so kind to stop and let me jump out and snap.

27th Annual Weston Craft Show, Weston, Vermont

Weston Craft show took place in a historical playhouse in Weston, Vermont. There were artists set up on the stage, isle, rafters, control booth, concession and balconies. The level of craftsmanship was so very high. I was and still am so inspired by these New England artists.

Jan *in her red coat* knew everybody of course! It was a thrill to be with her because Eva and I met so many artists.

Rob Cartelli Ceramics

I bought a sugar bowl with a top and a mug. What can I say, I thought my tea would make a statement in these simple but elegant pieces. I told Rob I was from Arizona and he said "I am sorry..." What is up with that?!!

Irene Pluntky-Goedecke jeweler designer. No, this isn't Irene, but it IS her dashing husband.

I bought a pair of earrings from Irene. They are silver with a little dash *yes, using dash twice* of gold. I seriously think I will wear them everyday for the rest of my existence. NO! I am not showing you a photo. Do you know how late it is already?

Eva Rose Serbin in the bandstand after the Weston Craft Show. Blue Bunny Rabbit scarf. We totally cash in on some great things when we went to Beacon Hill. Eva found her scarf. They have a 7 Eleven in Beacon Hill but they don't sell big bathtub sized drinks like in Phoenix. They sell SUNDRIES. I had the best slab o' cheese. Back to Vermont.

Jani and I plotting our next move. Eva was shuffling in the fallen leaves. I am so not done...you know this. That is why I called this Part I.

Crafty Girls Go To Boston

2010-10-07T21:32:00.000-07:00

Eva and I are leaving tomorrow morning for Boston! This will be our first 'girls' trip. We can't wait to see Jan! She bought blueberries for breakfast! Beacon Hill shopping tomorrow evening. Pinch me now, is this for real!?

My loot from Tuesday Morning I picked up today.

Lily was watching tv with this pumkin snuggled next to her. She went on a field trip to a farm today. We are going to miss Lil and Jeffrey...Lily did tell us that craft shows were not her thing.

Simple for today. LL Bean pencil skirt and cashmere sweater, 7 buck Polo sunnies, Taryn Rose wedges and SAM HARVEY bag.

I am so lucky to have my IPAD for this trip. Eva and I have 2 movies downloaded for our flight. First time I will be leaving my books at home for a trip.

Should I stop now?

NO. Just one more thing. Jan my aunt is incredible! She is an artist scout. I have left this whole trip in her hands. She actually enjoys planning for trips. She goes to these shows every year. This year, I didn't want to miss out. After Friday, I don't even know where I will be. I just told Jan that Eva and I are in her hands. I do know that we will be in Vermont for the Weston Craft Show. Juried artists. The bomb.

No Secrets To Reveal

2010-10-06T09:11:00.000-07:00

It finally rained. I am pretending it is fall here. David Sheflin and Cathyanne from Vintage Fashion Inc. in Phoenix told me they found an Ana Sui dress for me. David has a thing for Ana Sui from the 1980 beginnings of Sui's design career. When I saw this dress I doubted the cream bands but then Cathyanne convinced me to try it on. Doesn't this dress make you want to cruise your bike with a boom box strapped to the tail end playing "Our Lips Are Sealed? Question is...why didn't I have this in the 80's?

This decaying historical liquor store is off of MC85 in Buckeye, Arizona. It only took me and my photography crew, Eva and Lily Serbin, 5 minutes to get here from my house. Free range chickens and broken down Schiltz signs.

Ana Sui knit dress1980's, Vintage Fashion Inc., SAM HARVEY handbag that I personally made, Wolford tights and Paul Green boots. Lips matted nude. I mean really, like you need more color with this dress!

Look Julia, I am Doing A Library Too!

2010-10-04T21:52:00.000-07:00

No, this is not my house. I wish. This is San Simeon Hearst Castle, in California.

Dad took me to Hearst Castle when I was in rock n roll high school. After that day I was never the same. It especially influenced me knowing that a woman named Julia Morgan designed it. She was wearing round spectacles way before Karen Walker.

Thinking of Julia today while working on my watercolor for a custom home I am designing. Julia did watercolor and little vignettes for every last cornice details of her architectural masterpieces. This woman could design. I always wanted to be like Julia.

Here is the library Julia designed for Randolf at Hearst Castle. Dad and I just toured the grounds, guest casitas, first floor public salons of the castle and the amazing 1920's pool palace. I can't even begin to describe the opulence of the wall to ceiling tiny blue and gold mosaic tiles. I mean she didn't spec out those damn aluminum hand rails to get into the pool. She designed like stone serpents coming out of the water to grab onto. She was all class. Don't even try to understand Hearst Castle unless you go to visit. Books don't do it justice, that is why I show the outside in black and white.

Julia....are you out there. Here is my library. What do you think? Yes, I know the ottoman left leg in the foreground is stunted. I have already fixed it.

HEY!

This is how far I got today. I love listening to my IPAD audio book. I am listening to The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest. Totally not my cup of tea but it keeps me focused and that's a good thing.

Under My Tent

2010-10-03T13:30:00.000-07:00

1930's Robin Hood hair.

This was me lounging in between peeps coming to visit.

Cici Bianca tank. My friend Cindy White made it. I only wore handmade items yesteday. Word. Ok my shoes, undergarment and socks were not handmade. They were made by aliens. NOW STOP IT!

"Oh hell, I want to buy all these bags!". See that little love cushion sittin' in my Lincoln Town car chewin' on a maritini olive? My Shyanna Lynne wants all your bags!   Her platinum locks were high and aquaneted *yes, I just made up a new word* into place. She had long hot pink nails with tiny dice on a chain hanging from the middle finger. She was a wheel of mysterious fortune. She didn't leave the long taupe car with the bull's horn attached to the front grill.   So I packed up all the bags and Colonel Sanders gave me a wad of Franklins. As he folded up his turquoise nugget encrusted wallet he said, "Just keep the change darlin'!". Major wink.

That didn't happen... I sold one bag yesterday.....There you have it. I had a good time. My apple butter selling friend, Hallie was rippin' on the band who played the slowest music known to man kind. Even if you gave him an upbeat song he would grease it down and yawn out the cords.

I have hope. As my tent was blowing away with me hanging on, a repeat customer ran up to me.  She told me how much she loves my bags. She knew the website front to back. She placed an order for a custom bag.

Anna Sui, Oh I love you. This bag is so hot! Ouch! It's burning my retinas! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

I cracked open Collezioni Close-Up Bags, Women, Fall Winter 2010-11. I am so competative it is hard for me to look at other's work. I am like that with my architecture mags too. Anna Sui was the best thing I saw. Next Goodyear Marketplace I think I will set up a badminton net.

Tons of Quail Flew Out of My Courtyard

2010-09-30T22:08:00.000-07:00

The architectural sample library is in Phoenix so this was considered going into 'town' for me.

It started with my fresh love for this new yet vintage hat from Emme Boutique 1960-ish. I have David Sheflin, owner of Vintage Fashion Inc. to thank for telling me about it.

The dress is from Saks 5th Ave about 3 years ago. It is really kind of falling apart. This is what is great about living in Arizona. I am still dressing for summer being that it is still hot enough to fry an egg on my sidewalk. Oh and my newest SAM HARVEY bag. I only have 2 made. I hope it doesn't sell this Saturday at the Goodyear Market because I want it for my own!

Jeffrey and I were on this major all day trek in a canyon all day in our Land Rover about a 100 years ago and when we stopped for lunch there were some Native Americans selling jewelry. Jeffrey was like, "We are so remote, how can there be shopping HERE!" That's just the way I do it.

The army surplus socks cost less than the tax of those wood Robert Clergerie wedges.

All the makings of an interior finish schedule that I have to finish before Eva and I head out to Boston to see my Aunt Jan, who is the editor and writer of New England Crafts Connoisseur in the beginning of October! I can't wait! We are going to see 'top drawer' artists at Weston Craft Show in Vermont! I want to get inspired to design a new bag style for Sam Harvey. We plan to check out some Boston vintage shops too.

Good Stuff Happening

2010-09-29T22:50:00.000-07:00

Town of Buckeye invited me back again last night to present the Park and Ride project to the Chamber. I guess to the members who weren't there last time. I decided to go for the British Airways look.

My nails are the bomb. I know. I told you I was against being a slave to nails but these are like shellac. I cut down branches with a saw and they didn't even chip. You can't see very well but I wore my vintage Miriam Haskell necklace from the ....hmm don't know really know the year, forgot. It's old OK.

Guess what is different? Yeah, I know it still looks like a bomb went off in my sewing room but notice the new IPAD!! *horns, dukes of hazard peel out with me jumping thru the window, snare drums, kazoos*

I convinced Jeffrey I needed this so I can keep a running total on our finances. Complete with tazor shock APP when I go over the budget. See my greasy finger prints that make the shape of the key board. It is SO SWEET!

The orange and blue bag is done. I am naming it the 'Katy' bag. The first one goes out to Katy because she is so welcoming and true as the blue sky. I appreciate her blog because she encourages her children to sit on big cushy chairs and read books to each other. What a concept huh? Her family all works together on projects like canning tomatoes or working in their garden. Really amazing woman this Katy is. This bag is even hotter in person. TRUST ME!

Virtual bedtime story for tonight. It's pretty cool. We have access to any book at any time. I think my first one will be Emily Dickenson.

Lily specifically told me I couldn't use this photo. Oh Lil!

These Hearts Are Breakin' Boots

2010-09-28T11:04:00.000-07:00

This is why you won't be catching me posting at 7:21am. This is me loading up Lily and Eva for school this morning. These boots are Lily's selection from last Sunday's shoe experience at Scottsdale Nordstrom's. These crazy fashiontastic shoes are from Naturino. It is not clear where they are made. All I have found so far is "European shoe". Feels and looks like Italian but these days you *China, yup I said it* never know. They are great quality and they boast the feeling of walking on sand.

Lily wanted to keep the green i.d. chain on. She said it made the boots look more expensive? You really should have been in Nordstrom's watching Lily trying on a toddler size gray metallic boot. She always assumes that all of the singles that are on display are her exact size so she puts them on. My sister in law was looking over at me like "Aren't you going to make her stop?!" My reply was a supressed giggle that turned into me cracking up. All the plastics with their well behaved kids were watching Lily making hopping laps around the whole department on one foot with this tiny sized metallic boot on. Her foot didn't even make it to the base of the boot. It was just lodged into the throat. Well, I suggested the Naturino. I wish they came in my size too.

Beautiful little bed head. NO, I didn't photoshop the soggy Cocoa Krispies that are now dried onto her shorts.

Eva bought some patent leather Geox mary janes. Shoes that walk on air. Actually, all the Serbin girls have matching black mary janes including cousin Leah. Lily's reaction was, "Why would I ever need dress up shoes?". About 30 seconds after Eva and Lily slid out of the back seat I heard from down the street, "Lily, I love your boots!". I can't wait to hear her stories when she gets home today. Eva and Lily are walking on air and sand.

Leave Some White

2010-09-22T21:59:00.000-07:00

Rainbow gelato in tiny square compartments, grill marked sandwhiches with ham hanging everwhere like pigeons from every corner, fine leather satchels next to hand painted paper shops. Families hugging and kissing, everybody wearing black, gandoliers sifting through the brackish slime green colored canal water. Fortress walls with grids of iron that fit perfectly together. Feeling like it would be perfectly fine if I got lost. I had Ave Maria ringing in my ears for days and days. NO - not in Korean! It is the best I could do.

I can tell you there were moments in Venice when I was actually hmmm what's the word? Not bored but out of my routine of working on projects. So I watercolored. I was genius for leaving those gondola wood posts white don't you think?

I used violet blue for my shadows. I remember making a point to leave more white on this one. Jeffrey was also tired of waiting for me to stop being all painterly. Professor Albanese PUNCTUATED LEAVING WHITE in a watercolor. It's like knowing when to stop talking.

Yes, I loved green just as much back then. What was that you said? I know, I should have added one more corbel under the eave on the right. I just threw your car keys in the lake.

Ave Maria will always be me walking down a cobble stone street in Venice. NO, it wasn't in Korean then! It definitely sounded more Enrique Iglesias without the shrillness. If that makes any sense at all. In the last 15 years I have never heard that song until tonight. Don't even ask me why. It really was Ferrari Dino moment.

What Would You Do If...

2010-09-20T22:48:00.000-07:00

Yes, I am still wanting this coat.

Lately, my hours are filled with architecture. Some sewing projects are taking longer to complete like my boucle coat with military pockets. I had to put it away until I could have Cecile at SEWING LAB last week help me sew my *biased* sleeve to the bodice. I of course brought 2 other minor sewing repairs like I would get through the sleeve so fast. It took 3 hours to sew the right sleeve in. At least I know I wasn't too far off on the first one. Not bad for teaching myself with a book. I think this coat will be like a collectors train set, it is going to take a long time to complete and I may never finish it! Do you understand that I want to hand sew finish each button hole? I still need to....don't let me start.

I don't even have the buttons yet. It is something I savor in the back of my mind that I rocked the shoulder pads and sleeves. Look at the bump out on the shoulder! I love that I have come this far in sewing my first couture coat. Half machine and half hand sewn. You should see the lining. You probably never want me to talk about this coat. Too bad.

Honestly, look, I've never been more serious here.... What would you honestly do if you woke up tomorrow and at the foot of your bed or hammock or whatever you roll up in at night, and Dean Martin was singing Kentucky Babe to you with that extra Hamburger Helper yahda yahda yahda la da la la loo croony singing. What would you do?

This is what Salinger was listening to when he wrote Down at the Dinghy. Salinger's character, Boo Boo Tannenbaum was humming this as she was walking down the board walk to go convince some little boy not to run away in his little boat. That's about as far as I got. I think I put too much oil in my tub because I just slipped off this here chair.

Never Try to Go to Bed at 6:38

2010-09-17T21:51:00.000-07:00

Never try to go to sleep at 6:38pm. I just couldn't keep my eyes open for Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix. That's all I wanted tonight because I caught Eva's back to school cold. As I was feverishly flinging covers on and off Enrique Iglesias "I Like It" was ravaging my brain. I guess there could be worse nightmare songs. Well actually it did get worse when my brain started mixing in All Night Long by Lionel Richie. That was when I decided to get the hell out of bed. I caught the ending when Voldemort was extricating himself from Harry's soul. The ending scene with Harry wearing his evergreen v-neck sweater made me feel all better. Ok it's not the ending scene but close enough. Stop it now!

Where am I going with this? I am just happy about orange and blue tonight really. Jeffrey saw me piecing together some bags with bright blue vinyl and bright orange straps the other day and I remember him saying "I wouldn't cut too much of that out!". I said, "Trust me." *famous words from me, that he has heard all too many times.* Oh yeah, that is the tiniest kitten sitting on my work table. Nana bought it for Eva when we were eating Swedish panckakes in Kingston last Sunday.

I am seeing a re-occuring theme of orange and blue in a lot of my projects. The photo above was taken when I toured the Eastman Cotton Gin in Buckeye, Arizona. These fiberglass panels were installed I don't know when, but they became the catalyst for a color palette for the Park and Ride that Jeffrey and I are working on right now. Jeffrey designed the shade canopies with their slight tilts and angles and I came up with adding the colored panels to the underside. We make an amazing design duo Jeffrey and I.

I love how the sky came out. I remember watching the blue puddles drying not knowing how it would look. Lily just interrupted me to ask if hair grows while we sleep. I told her yes and then she said "THAT'S CREEPY!" She is almost 7.

Tim has orange and blue doing their magical thing by his front door. Did I mention how blue and orange are complimentary colors being on opposite ends of the color wheel? I can't believe I am blogging with a fever and on Erev Yom Kippur. That's love.

Karen Walker RTW Spring 2011

I would have liked to be sitting next to White Lightning to see if this blue jacket was a shade brighter. WL's photo from the runway seemed so much better. I showed this to Jeffrey and I know it gave my bag cuttings some credibility.

Ummm, who was talking about Bert and Mary orange and blue back in January? Just sayin.

This was a cute car at the Edmonds muscle and hot rod car show last Sunday. I love this trailer. Ok, now you see where I came up with chrome plated bread box. That door opens into a tiny cab with a thin mattress covered in a hand made quilt.

These dish towels need to be in that microscopic *totally ripped this off from Salinger* kitchen on wheels don't you think? These were hand knitted and sent to me by my friend Katy. Yes, she hand knit these just for me. I want to make her an orange and blue bag and send it to her. Thank you Katy for this thoughtful gesture.

It is 9:46pm and I am wide awake.

The Wedges, Coat and Clutch

2010-09-15T12:51:00.000-07:00

Sometimes taking apart a wooden crate with a crow bar is a great way to get into blogging mode.

Not quite cool enough to wear these Wolford tights and Michael Mott for Paraphernalia mod 1960's jacket that I bought at Vintage Fashion Inc. in Phoenix. This is a never before seen shot of the mandarin orange clutch by SAM HARVEY . I found the leather at Tandy a while back. I am on the lookout for a sewing machine for leather. The wedges came before the coat when I was into Hogwarts. I had no idea I would be finding this supreme coat back then. I love how this all works! Eventually, these random tangents that I take you on pull themselves together.

This is a recycled glass chime by Bedrock Industries that I snatched up at the Edmonds Farmer's Market last weekend. I bought it for Lily because it reminded me of her drawings. This chime is in the tree in the photo shoot see it?

Look what Fed Ex man dropped off yesterday! I can't wait to take a dip in my new View!

Photographer: Eva Serbin, just before tennis class. Vintage Fashion Inc. ,mod 1960's Michael Mott for Paraphernaliacame lovely coat *yes I was sweating in 100 degree sunset heat vapors*, Wolford winter soft logic tights, L.L. Bean Signature forest green wedges and a SAM HARVEY leather clutch.

"Jeat Jet?"

2010-09-13T22:36:00.000-07:00

My favorite talks on the phone with my brother Erik is when I have to hang up because I can't stop laughing.

This wasn't one of those times but I did muster a pretty good cracking when I told him "Erik, I see this little house with a shit load of bird houses all over it." The more insane out of nowhere the better. The fact that I am explaining this is killing it here. It's just not funny now! I further piled it on when I told him how I was going to dump a whole bag of Chips Ahoy in this tiny garden for all the bird houses.

I am just zooming into this birdie chalet on the right. These bird houses live about 3.5 minutes walking distance from my Mom's house in Edmonds, Washington. The window is so yellow that there must be a Dr. Zhivago waltz playing for sure inside.

As soon *and I mean AS SOON* as I clicked my little Nikon button, a bearded dude with a yellow cap appeared. It was really cheesy that I asked him if I could take photos of his bird houses AS I AM TAKING PHOTOS OF HIS BIRDHOUSES - DEEEEEEEEEEEEEEH. "He spoke exclusively from the larynx, as if he were altogether too tired to put any diaphram breath into his words." - Just Before the War with the Eskimos, JD Salinger.

It's not like he said "Hey, why the hell are you taking pictures of my house?!" Instead, he was more than happy to share his lovely miniature creations.

For this one, I asked, "Can I take this photo?" He said, "Yup." Then he went into his microscopic clap board house on the corner and told me he was going to bring out more of his bird houses. *I'm thinking, don't be thinking I am going to follow you in there, floating log spinner. Could you just imagine him in the Puget Sound balancing himself on a floating log?*

Tim is the kind of guy that would give his pen to somebody kneeling on the sidewalk trying to write down a phone number with a busted tip pencil. He would say "Hey, I just found this pen, go ahead and keep it." Even though he was really hospitable I was hoping he wasn't going to say "Jeat Jet?". I was rehearsing rapidly how I would say that "That's really quite all right, I just inhaled a whole bag of Chips Ahoy." or "I think I have to go polish my chrome plated bread box now".

I asked him if he sold any of these bird houses at the local farmer's market *which I already knew the answer* and he said no, he just makes bird houses for his friends. Thanks Tim. I wonder if you come from a long line of floating log harpooning spinning shingle makers?

This Is How I Deal

2010-09-10T14:16:00.000-07:00

This is the song that was playing while I was on my way from SEATAC to see Mom and Papa. I was sitting in the farthest back seat inside of this black limo. Why was I sitting among crystal goblets with red paper napkins tucked inside, I don't know. I mean Mom told me last night that she had pre-paid for a shuttle to take me to Edmonds, Washington. Let's back up shall we?

I roll my turquoise Swiss Army luggage up to the super shuttle kiosk and give them my confirmation number and they tell me to go sit on this oak slat bench until they call me. So I wait about 15 minutes and then this driver calls out "Lara, we are ready for you!". He leads me PAST the mini van blue shuttles all lined up and ahead in the distance is this black limo that is about a mile long. My jaw just drops. Ok, let's also add that I have my Babolat tennis bag slung over my shoulder. I am thinking to myself , "This guy must think I am a tennis Pro!" So he puts my tennis bag and luggage in the cavernous trunk and I sat in the back of the huge emty limo cab. It was just me! I was thinking that Mom must really be proud of me for blowing the Mayor away last Tuesday with the concept watercolors.

Led Zepplin and Joe Walsh just sounded right while I was gazing out the limo window *yes, I rolled the window down, why don't people do this when they are in a limo?* looking at tall fir trees against a cool gray toned sky. Ahhhhh, the sun is hidden from view. I love this. I need this little vacume bubble of seclusion. Things were really crazy last week. I loved the activity of it all. The harder they come the more fierce my topspin returns.

Oh and by the way, Mom said she did not specify a limo. The universe just lined that one up!

In my perfect limo riding world I want this Ludacris song blasting with perfect woofers and tweeters and all that whatever. Just perfectly loud and obnoxious. That's woahllla skaty!

Glad You Can't See My Chipped Toe Nail

2010-09-03T22:54:00.000-07:00

I left my watercoloring hermitage today. I popped into Vintage Fashion Inc to try on this shredder mod military coat. I just bought it like 5 hours ago. I will model when I finish my orange leather SAM HARVEY bag. I need some Wolford tights too. It is like David Sheflin knew I needed this coat. I get such a rush when I go to VFI. I feel lucky that there is a guy like David who is so connected in Phoenix. His shop is so clean and elegant. I would love a store like that for my bags. Soon. I am sure it will happen.

What the hell, my Ipod is playing Nick Nack Patty Wack Give Your Dog a Bone. That is what I get for buying Jeffrey a turn table. The most disturbing transition is going from Lily Allen to Mousercise with something about Uncle Scrooge's Money. It is so cheesy it makes me cringe.

This is me shooting a photo from one of Sheflins books at VFI on 60's fashion. Cathyanne was giving me the low down on who Michael Mott the designer of my bitchen militant infantry coat. Gawd, I love it. Mott designed the coat for a shop called Paraphernalia. I guess in the 60's this shop was known for selling British designer labels. I guess he worked along side Betsy Johnson too. Did I mention how I love the chrome bulbous buttons? It was great to get the hell out of my house. I see a studio, warehouse, boutique for all the shit I do coming soon.

This is what I was looking at while sitting on this bench drinking a Cafe Americano. I cropped out the Honda in front. No it was not a Honda Cycle. I wouldn't have cropped that out. You ready for the great end of the week news?

Vance gave me approval for 15 runners for the Sanctuary in Paradise Valley!!!! He wants an invoice! He wants more runners for his CASITAS! If I could fly, I would wear my Ipod listening to The One, Backstreet Boys or maybe The Olympic Spirit by John Williams. I had to share this with you! This is so amazing! Someday we will laugh together how I started this SAM HARVEY out of my house while watching bunnies sleeping in my courtyard. I will love the day I have my dining room back. But for now, I do like being able to just wear cut offs. My studio has to have natural light you hear that! It has to be just like my dining room or it is a NO GO.

Oh, and Sherrie, I must have spent 2 extra hours today adding trench coats and SAM HARVEY bags to all my ontourage.

Turn This Mutha Out

2010-08-31T22:25:00.000-07:00

Naturally, I started with the most tedious watercolor first. I must turn 3 muthas out by next tuesday. This presentation for Town of Buckeye is pretty much a big deal. Today I finished painting tiny I-Beams all day and now *well actually not now, you should be so happy I waited until after I beat myself into a sweaty pulp before posting this* I am applying the pencil lead to the back of the second sketch. I am really excited to start the second. It is zoomed into the action. My shadows will be big and triumphant. I can put detail into the rusted corrugated metal and the head gate will be stokin good. Seriously, everytime I am working I sing to myself 'turn this mutha out' duh duh dah duh duh dah dah dah *did I add enough duh?*. Then when I am really on auto pilot *this is usually while I am multi-tasking the crap out of 30 minutes*, my brain will mix in shit like "you got the best of my love - whoa whoa", Whitney Houston. I know.

Elvis pumpkin *a must for this season*. Today it looks like a Honda cycle peeled out on my desk. Are there Honda cycles? Man I hope so. Did I tell you my brother called himself Honda once when we were crank calling yesterday. Well the lady on the other end called herself Jaguar. Orange leather for handbags, pattern pieces for a runner, Frank Lloyd Wright water color, sharp blades, and everything else I cannot find like Skibu.

Ween Ween. That's supposed to be the Honda.

This Helmut is Heavy...I Like It

2010-08-26T20:09:00.000-07:00

U.S. Surplus Corp. Phoenix, AZ where there are no refunds. Drop and give me 20! I was on the hunt for camo.

This helmut felt like I had a bowling ball on my head. Really, not kidding, it was that heavy! I should play tennis with this helmut. It would probably give me some fierce neck muscles. I could really grind it! GRINDAGE!

I bought these jackets for $5 bucks a piece. I will cut them up and use them for my bag interiors. I threw in some socks for a shredder accessory for ME.

Orange leather for the outside of the bag.

Next stop was to visit with my girl Sherrie at H&R Fabrics. I always love seeing her. She helped me take Sam Harvey to the next level of coolness with her sweet suggestions to use metallics. After that I dashed off to my pre-proposal meeting.

I pulled into the Sojourner Center which provides temporary shelter for abused women and noticed the tall imposing gates and hard slump block exterior that had super high if any windows. There was a large semi unloading what looked like charitable items. Yeah, this has to be it. I entered through the 2 sets of security gates, I was then escorted down a hospital like corridor. My body started to tingle when I heard children screaming, laughing and talking. When you have children of your own you become sort of mother of all children. I knew this was going to be hard. In the conference room there were some familiar faces around a long ugly table with rolling office chairs dated from the 80's with marker scribblings on the arms. As we introduced ourselves I noticed that the guy next to me was what I call a Phoenix good ol' boy architect. I just hadn't seen him in so long. He didn't recognize me either. Many people don't since I grew my blonde out a few years ago.

I could do wonders with the place. Oh the colors I could paint. Shall I go on? It felt so great to be sitting in a pre-proposal. For the first time I felt like one of the good ol' boy architects. I love being a girl competing for projects with men that could be my dad. There is no end to the fun.

The hard part was touring the facility. The hardest part was seeing the artwork on the doors of each room where a mother and her children were living. My eyes were welling with water. Inside I was trying to get a grip so I just took out my camera to give myself something to literally focus on. Little notes like "I love you Mama." written inside a little construction paper heart. My Lily gets emotional if I just scratch myself. I just wanted to run home to my babies and hug them. My heart started to grow bigger while I walked the halls. One mother came out of her room and invited me in. The group was ahead and so I went inside. It was a masonry painted room with hard floors and metal bunk beds. The children were jumping up and down so I told them to smile while I took their photo. I thought of how my children can just open the door at their home and turn on the hose and just play in the yard. These children were locked away.

At the end of the tour a good ol' boy came up to me and winked and said "Hey, why don't you send me a copy of your photos!". I turned to him and chuckled so sweetly and then said "NO WAY IN HELL!" Then I chuckled so sweetly again and said "Later".

I won't show any photos on this post because the nature of competing for public projects is super competitve. I want this job. This project is meaningful in so many ways. I will have to prepare a statement of qualifications now. I will eat my competition for breakfast. SEMPER FI DO OR DIE!

Now I really should have bought the helmut!

My Brass Babies Have Arrived

2010-08-24T22:18:00.000-07:00

SAM HARVEY toggles

SAM HARVEY buckles

SAM HARVEY clips

SAM HARVEY grommets

SAM HARVEY buckle and clip

I was riding my bike tonight along this dark path sidewalk through the desert. The moon was full, there were the city lights ahead, dark desert to my left and dry mesquite beans that I target to run over. Then there was the coyote that I saw creep into the desert. I rode faster like he was chasing me but in reality the dog could not stand me singing to The Cure. I was plugged in with my Ipod and the Bicycle Chase came on from E.T. it is usually a song that I fast forward but tonight it was perfect for how I felt about my hardware finally arriving after waiting what seemed to be an eternity. I ordered the hardware in Janurary! I feel so lucky right now. I really do. I feel like my bike is flying through the air.

Accept I don't have a boogery alien in my bike basket. In my bike basket I have all my handbag inventory from last year boring blah that I am going to chuck into the forest down below. Yes, that is right, I dumped all of my inventory last weekend at Salvation Army. I am starting over. A fresh look. I will be updating the website soon. I will still be making some of the favorites don't worry now. I will be taking out bags like Mustang which is a dark brown linen bag. Who in the hell wants a dark brown bag. Boring. I mean if I do a brown bag it will have sexy hardware and be made out of leather or something. It won't look like a potholder! I am excited about adding an orange leather bag for fall. I am so excited that I have my brass babies now. Tomorrow I will be cutting out pieces for new bags to sew together. Mostly, the metallics which are really exciting and fun!

Onward and upward.

How Bout Them Apples

2010-08-19T22:16:00.000-07:00

I really like to water color because it is so unpredictable. You never know what the paint is going to do. You can try to control it to some extent just by knowing your brushes, the amount of water to have on the tip and mastering the color mixing. My watercoloring probably started when I was too young to remember. Playing with my spaghetti and rubbing it in my platinum blonde hair and having my Dad laughing at me encouraging me to add more meat sauce.

My first water color was in Architecture College with Professor Albanese a million years ago. I will never forget how smug he was *because he would bring back all these perfect watercolor paintings from his Greece trips with students*. I mean they were really epic. Ok, I hate epic too. Sorry. How about they were really CHOICE. Well he told us to paint a still life so there I was with Jeffrey in the study room of our dorm. Well the lighting was shit but there was the green apple and a red apple and I was just studying the light and painting exactly what I saw. It turned out amazingly good. When I posted my painting *no not on the internet, there was no yahoo back then* on the grey homosote tack board wall of the studio. Albanese was all ready to dole out his criticism of all these rookie painters. Then he came across my apples and he was quiet. There was that quiet knowing again. I am a natural. I love to watercolor. This is what I have been up to this week. Sewing machine is taking a back seat until our client who wants this house his own special way is satisfied. I hope he is this Saturday morning when Jeffrey and I reveal the finished painting and floor plans. I still have many layers of paint to go.

Take 2 asprin and soak the watercolor paper in your tub and then staple to a strong homosote board before you go to bed. Watercolor dreams.

A Quiet Knowing

2010-08-18T08:50:00.000-07:00

McDonald Drive is a road in Paradise Valley that is has a speed limit of 25 mph. Once I turn onto it I am forced to slow down. Camelback Mountain is on the right and it's shear mass blocks out the whole city. The Sanctuary Resort is tucked along this wall of sculpted decomposing mass of earth tones *like that?*. The entrance is a quick right and if you are scanning for Alijandro or applying lipstick, you will miss the turn so pay attention!

Paradise Valley, Phoenix

This patch of mod mansions, each fitted with requisite infinity pool, sits nestled on the steppes of Camelback and Mummy mountains, framed by giant saguaro cacti. Unpretentious and sporty, its year-round residents tend toward WASPily low-key golf obsessives.
Famous Neighbors: Author Clive Cussler; Cambell Soup heir Bennett Dorrance; bungling former veep Dan Quayle
$25 Million Buys You: A 10,000 sq. ft. abobe-style desert compound on North 64th Street with every conceivable amenity. - The Official Filthy Rich Handbook by Christopher Tennant, page 35.

Today's meeting at Sanctuary was the bomb. I was totally confident with the runner. I looked and felt amazing. I had my new Tory Burch heels on and thats all that mattered. I have been working with Vance for a year now. I will never forget the first cold call I made to him. I was persistent. I told him I made these handbags that had Asian print and that they might go really well with the whole bamboo zen-ness at his Spa. I guess it was enough for him to grant me our first meeting. OMG. Our first meeting was like wearing braces on your first kiss. It was clumsy and rough. I brought like 20 bags with me in these gray industrial plastic bins. I knew at that time he was in observation mode. I remember sensing that I had a long journey ahead of me. He told me these things take time. Did I leave out the part about how the valet guy had to take my gray bins in a golf cart for my initial meeting in the courtyard. It's like showing up with a mini U-haul and moving in. Like I was setting up a damn circus tent.

A year later. Oh today *actually yesterday now, i am still working on this one* was so smooth and effortless. The cool thing is that the runner was Vance's idea. I think he should change his name to Vance. He looks like a Vance. He gives me all the credit but it is really a co-creation. Once he saw the completed runner today, his eyes sparkled and his face beamed. I felt like I had played this role so many times that I didn't need to be there. We decided to take the runner to one of the treatement rooms to see how it looked. You have to leave the restroom, lounge, locker area to go back outside in this hidden courtyard. The treatment rooms are along an outdoor cooridor. It was really awesome to see the runner on the massage table. Then I sank a little when I saw that the runner did not hang down on either side of the massage table. Easy fix. The coolest part was watching Vance handle the runner. He placed it diagonally and then straight. He owned the moment. He was contemplating how the new wall finish could tie in the with the fabrics. He admired the SAM HARVEY logo that was sewn in the seam. He wants his clients to see the label when they come in for a massage. Can you believe this?!

Choice ball basket. This is what I really wanted to do at Sanctury yesterday. Oh yeah!

The difference between now and looking back at this time last year, is that I have a quiet knowing.

Do Rattle Snakes Bite Through Denim Pants?

2010-08-14T20:32:00.000-07:00

My phone is smaller than yours.

My meeting at Sanctuary Resort and Spa in Paradise Valley, AZ with Vance is next Tuesday. I am so excited to show him the runner for the massage tables. If he digs this, then he will want a minimum of 15. Do you know anybody that likes to sew and lives on a mountain near me? This is such a huge opportunity for me and well you know Sam Harvey of course.

I am so proud of how I finished the runner. I went to a sewing lab at Bernina Connection in Phoenix last Thursday because the trim really looked hanus. It was well worth my time. There were other sewers there who had other projects. One woman was hemming her husbands pants. Whatever. Most of these ladies were sewing these laptop bags that made me want to use one to hurl into. But I was so quiet. Like a mouse in the corner with shitty fluourescent lighting taking out my billionth stitch. Cecilia was the instructor and she is amazing! I love her! She showed me a simple way to do the mitered corner that looks totally professional. It was like 9ish by the time I got out of there and was so starving I drove to this Pita Jungle place across the street and ordered a spicy chicken pita that was not spicy. The thing was as big as a sack of new flour. I didn't want to stay there and eat it. I mean I still had my Lara name badge on. I looked like a train wreck so I just took it in my car to eat it. While driving. Have you ever tried to eat something that big while driving?

Well it was fire hot and so i just opened the huge thing to let it cool off. But I was so hungry I had to have a bite at the next light. I couldn't see what I was eating. I mean there was brocoli in this thing. I just decided to pull into a Burger King parking lot and eat the mother. So there I was eating this wamping burrito thing in Burger King parking lot. I was so happy.

Jet Propelled Clubs and Dark Stuff

2010-08-11T21:45:00.000-07:00

For some odd thing I have been craving the viewing time of Harry Potter. Not just any Potter, but the first one. I went out of my way to get the movie at Blockbuster. Turns out they didn't have the first one titled Evil Doer of Nescafe or something. It is always the same plot you know that! Well I picked up Chamber of Secrets. When I was checking out, the young kid behind the counter was like "Harry Potter Aye?". I was like "Yeah, this movie is due back next year at this time."

Why I can't stop thinking of Harry Potter, I don't know. So far I think it is Hagrid. I like how he tells little Hermionee that everything is alright and she need not even think about worries. I also like how Hagrid has tons of bird cages, old boots and cave dweller stuff hanging from his ceiling. HEY, maybe he is the modern version of Captain Caveman.

Do I remember correctly that cavy would jet propel himself with this club thing? We just accepted this as normal.

OH CAVEY!

You knew I couldn't just leave now. Tracy would not be pleased if I left this thing untied. Tracy is my genius, talented and hilarious friend from high school. She lives in my head and tells me when I need to insert things. Sometimes I listen.

I think I want to escape to the Harry Castle because it is dark and mysterious. I am sick of color to be quite honest. I cannot wait to wrap myself in dark browns and blacks for fall. Yeah! That must be it. NO! I don't want the Harry scarf. You are so hilarious. I am also totally into forest green for this fall. I am going to cake myself in greens.

Crinkly whites. I bought this Theory dress shirt that is crinkly and well, awesome. Here is the lineup. Ready. After this you can sleep. Ok Alejandros. Still ready?

Chocolate brown pencil skirts

Crinkly white dress shirts - only Theory will do

Little cute sweaters from LLBean Signature *young bloggers cringing*

Dark brown chocolate heels, Tory Burch *goldie things around the edges. Tight!

Takes my breath away. Ok, probably my pink jacket Cindy White gave me too. Oh and my caveman club. CAVE MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUN!

View Textile View Magazine Issue 90

Deliciously Weird Light

2010-08-09T22:49:00.000-07:00

I just got back from practicing my serves. Well at basket number 4 I told myself I just had to let it rip. Amanda, my coach is telling me my swing needs to be fluid. I can be fluid. Now I have a set routine like Nadal. Except I don't go HHHHHHHHUUUGUAHHHH! I simply bounce three times and then put the ball in the triangle part. My toss seems more consistant. I was standing on the right corner for doubles and the groove I had was just famous. All my serves were about 3' above the net and they were screamers, landing on the serving box line and with a kick. The light from the yellowish street lamp just outside the dark green chain link seemed to shine brighter. There was silence even having the rookies in purple shirts playing beside me in the next court. It can be strange when you are at a park at night with swings and basketball courts and there is nobody there. Amanda says I will be ready to re-join the meetup tennis group in the fall. She wants me to be all heavy weight champion and come in all bad ass and skilled. I will be like Agassi when he made his comeback. My chest will be puffed out and I will definitely be wearing my trademark white head band.

Cosabella tank and youth Target shorts.

This is why I don't have that french manicure shit. Being crafty yesterday. I had to finish the runner for Santuary or I couldn't live with myself. I must admit it is not perfect but ready for my client to take a look. If you saw it you would think it looked fine.

Old Skool.

Bet you never heard of a sleeve booster. The gray stuff is called horse hair canvas. It is used to make a firm little bump at the shoulder seam.

I taught myself how to make shoulder pads. It is like cut and fill in civil engineering. Totally. There is a natural hollow just below your shoulder on your chest. Feel it. This pad fills that in so the coat looks really tight and puffed out like a quail in heat. Oh yeah, that is Enzo's old dog brush that I used for fraying out the edges so I didn't have this hard edge on my chest. Details.

The shoulder is together. Look how sharp it is. Before this, I thought shoulder pads were just cotton danishes you snapped to the underside of a coat. There is no going back. I want all my clothes made with this kind of detail. I feel so good when I wear my own stuff. I want to wear this jacket to the airport next time I go to Washington and look bad ass.

This is the other side I haven't finished yet. See the difference. This side doesn't have the shoulder pad. It is all shlumpy and sad.

What is going good with you?

Hendrix was Obsessed with Dylan

2010-08-07T22:11:00.000-07:00

Jimi Hendrix spandex flame suit*i mean really what would you call it? and beige loafers taken at Experience Music in Seattle.

I had taken lots of other photos but why show Cobain's bashed to hell guitar when I can't stand his music? There was this child that couldn't sit down. I was trying to watch Eric Clapton talk about Hendrix but this little boy was standing next to me on this catepillar modular seating. He was very proud of how he arranged all the seating this way before Mom and I came in to the ongoing video documentary about Hendrix. I love how Jimi played the crap out of his instrument. I like how he didn't think he could sing in the beginning. He used to carry around Bob Dylan music wherever he went. Hendrix was obsessed with Dylan. Then he thought to himself that if Dylan could make it with a weird voice then he had just as much of a chance. During Hendrix's initial trip to England the only thing he could talk about were his concern for having the right amps for his gig and meeting Clapton. The guy was hard core!

I read and looked at as much of Hendrix's life as I could in the Music Experience in Seattle. Then Mom gave me the look like she does when she doesn't want me to take part in something like riding motorcycles.

Then I annoyed her by snarling out Purple Haze lyrics just as she was trying to go to sleep that night. She kinda liked it I think.

Why You Do Me Like You Do?

2010-08-04T22:14:00.000-07:00

Where was David Sheflin when I needed him? He would have really went nuts over these vintage Supremes show attire exhibit.

Music Experience, you must go. I cannot cram it all in or I will be up till the wee morning with Lucky Charms. Here is some goodies for you. Honestly, I just wanted to finish Catcher in the Rye tonight.

Funkalicious.

Let's meet here and have a jam session. Play it like you just don't care! What instrument are you going to rock when we get there?

We Just Found A Man Carving A Log. Really.

2010-08-03T20:55:00.000-07:00

While Mom was waiting to 'pick a daisy' she found this event on the bulletin board of Pegasus Coffee House. If you don't know what the hell I'am talking about then read the last blog. It was the socks. Remember? Mom and I looked at our map of Bainbridge Island, Washington like two geeks holding sparklers during a 4th of July parade in front of all the locals. We wanted to find out where this craft fair thing was at Blakely Harbor Park. According to the note on the board, it was over in about 45 minutes. I told you I was going to navigate with Mom.

So Mom was driving naturally. She is my Mom. She is so cute. Anyway, what were we talking about anyway. Gawd. Well, it was so gorgeous that it was hard to just be the navigator. Damn it all! I was rubber necking big time over all the pine trees. See the photo above? It was like that except we were going around the harbor through a narrow 2 lane road. We were off the grid. There were houses tucked away in the mature trees with people out painting what ever they could before it rained again. It was easy to spot the houses because of the bold color choices. As we found our destination, all we could see was a narrow trail leading into the thick forest. This wasn't a craft fair.

Well it was far from a craft fair. It was the coolest thing. We spoke to this lady sitting on a log in a clearing as to which way we should take. She was oiled up on something because she just smiled at us. We picked a "Art On The Trail" pamphlet and started our journey down this 2" wooded trail. OK, it was 3 inches wide. Gawd, you would correct me. We were both delighted to find the artists still at their nature stations doing their thing. I mean when was the last time you just came upon David Franklin carving a log in the forest?

Kathleen McKeehen drawing botanicals along the pathway. Melinda West, a basket weaver had left, but it was really cool to see her organic creations just sitting in the forest. I felt like we were playing Swiss Family Robinson and I had to take my baskets to find coconuts. It was fun walking ahead not knowing who we would bump into next. Mom and I were so impressed with ourselves for finding such a cool happening in the forest. I kept looking down at my cool socks too.

This is Ellen Wixted wrapping up for the day. I cropped out the tree of her subject. Sorry... Ellen camped out by the Generator Building.

The juxtaposition of this sublime Generator Building decaying in this idyllic bay setting is just too good. Don't you think? I didn't take the pic of the whole building because honestly, I wouldn't want to build my dream home in this area because of it, but I loved the heavily tagged parts.

Cha Cha Cha window. Yes, that is a Chia Pet reference.

My 6 year old Lily now thinks she is in control of what I post. She insisted that I post Brite Futures, Sophisticated Pony Tail. It is a forshadow of the next post which completes the final leg of the Washington trip at the Music Experience downtown. Don't miss it.

The heart shaped pattern of rocks in the foreground is by artist Diana Liljelund she is into mixed-media sculpture. The house in the background I want. I want to be the person in the boat paddling up to that house to get s'mores ready for the evening.

Did I just hear something? You want to see what she made don't you. You just like to wind me up!

Pretty cool aye?

You Are Beautiful

2010-07-29T22:38:00.000-07:00

The fantastic day in Bainbridge Island with Mom last weekend started with my outfit. Newly bought raisin colored Clarks with walking on roses killer socks. I bought and wore right out of the store. Short shorts that were army green, white top, pearls, new army green Michael Stars camp shirt and of course my red Cabela's ball cap. If they didn't say it, they were thinking, those are cool socks. Washington has cool socks.

Seriously, this day trip was so fun and memorable. Can I bronze this day with Mom forever? I felt like I had a really big prize to show off to Mom that day. You see she had not explored Bainbridge yet. I first explored this island during my Color Workshop taught by Leatrice Eiseman two years ago. This workshop transformed me.

Mom and I woke up super early, had breakfast at OTC, Oak Table Cafe. The most amazing thin Swedish pancakes, Lingon berry sauce and thick bacon.

Even when we were buying truck loads of shoes I was thinking of Leatrice. I said to the shop owner "Well I will take the raisin colored shoes." They liked how I described the color as raisin. Anybody else would have said "duh...brown". Color buying power is in the name. Would you prefer a baby poop green lap top cover or this lime peel green. Same color, different name. Well you do know Eiseman lives on Bainbridge? Well get this, just as Mom and I are leaving the farmer's market I see a beautiful woman in a gorgeous coordinated pink linen day trippin' blouse and pants and totally drop dead accessorization and it was Leatrice Eiseman in the parking lot. I am telling you, it just gets better. Have you ever seen flowers in olive oil canisters at a farmer's market?

This electric transformer box *scary how I know so much* was placed in the parking lot as we said goodbye to Lee.

There are no bad stops in Bainbridge. Eagle Harbor Book Co. book store where I picked up Catcher in the Rye.

Random Playmobil pirate adhered to car that looked like an orca whale.

No, I am not showing you the car. Stop it. And yes, of course I took a picture of the car. Ok, I will think about it.

The most amazing coffee house I have ever stepped a rose sock covered foot in.

I just stumbled onto this. It was just one of those days. It was the socks, I am telling you! Look at the perfect light fixture. This is an example of 25% yin and 75% yang. The dark wood and casework is yang and the white ceiling is yin. If the ceiling was dark this would have really pissed me off.

Our favorite art gallery on the Island. Wouldn't it be great to have these as your everyday glasses to use for drinks?

Happy?

Flowers and Purple Haze

2010-07-28T22:30:00.000-07:00

"Hey what is that wet stuff on my toe?" That's really what I said out loud as I was taking a photo just a couple of days ago when I was standing on this cool gray sun dappled sidewalk in Edmunds, Washington. Yes, that is where my Mom lives. Turns out it was dew. Wow dew, really? It was great to be surrounded by islands, ferries, tall evergreens and neat coffee houses. The minute I was there I wanted to wrap myself in evergreen. Not a big surprise I know since you and I already know that I needed some army green long sleeve tops to go with my army surplus skirt that I made. Did I show you that? Way to go tangents.

That skirt. Will you let me just continue now. Come on now people. So I found some awesome Micheal Stars army green long sleeve tops that really kick all ass. No I am not going to show you.

This is the kind of thing you find in Edmunds. Sweet. Safe, wooly socks in the winter, shops with floral napkins that you put in your powder room only when guests come over, and a movie theater with only one movie with 2 showings.

Elegant and cozy homes that I want. The best one I didn't have my camera with me. The one time! The one time. THE ONE TIME! It was mint green and kind of looked like the one above. The sun was setting over the bay, there were tons of pink roses growing along the white picket fence and when I looked inside the house there were huge paintings of roses. The house had this magical glow to it. It really did. Can you tell I have been reading Catcher in the Rye. That book is sick. But now I have to finish it. I do like the way Salinger writes. I can totally imagine Ackley picking a big ol' booger, like really digging to China over it or cutting his crummy toe nails on Holden's desk.

Cute flower boxes as I was walking around.

Flowers all the time.

I literally wanted to drink coffee all day. One day I drank a macciato or what ever the hell it was and was so wired I couldn't sleep until like 3am or something. That's when I decided to meditate on Mom's toilet in her bathroom when I couldn't find the light switch and I was too tired to look for a good chair. Man I went totally deep that time. It was a... well listen to it already.

Mom's house is seriously just down and to the right of this street. This is Walnut Cafe coffee house in walking distance. I totally had dinner too late. I have like a giant ball of spaghetti and meatball in my stomach. Now what the hell am I going to do? Nice to be back home. Night cats.

Meditate, Levitate and Navigate with Mom

2010-07-22T20:16:00.000-07:00

Thought I would visit the abandoned cow farm before taking off tomorrow.

I am packing to go see Mom in Washington State tomorrow morning. I am escaping the heat. We will shop, eat, meditate, levitate and navigate. Did I tell you that whenever my Mom and I get into a car together we usually pass our destination. We never stop talking. This should be really interesting because Mom doesn't know her way around Seattle and Uh, thats where the shopping is you know. Jeffrey's favorite time for me to shop is when the stores are closed.

We will eat raw veggie healthy food. We will eat the foods that are creative and weird. We will pet cats that are named Moo Moo and drink strong tea. Or at least I will. I want to see the Jimmy Hendricks exhibit at the Music Experience. I would love to go on the underground Seattle tour too. Just walking outside will be nice and seeing animals other than bull snakes, quail, desert hares and squirrels that look like hamsters.

Maybe I will sit next to a crotchet expert on the plane ride over and he or she will give me all the insight I need to finish the trim on my jacket posted in Totally Tweed post. Honestly, I want to learn how to crotchet so I can do that trim thing. But now I want to crotchet because I want to make some cool sweaters so I can wear them to see Mom. I do wish I finished my jacket for this trip but it is only about half done.

Seriously, you think the airline would mind if I just bring my dress form onto the plane so I could finish my shoulder pads. Could you just see me, "Um I am just forming my shoulder pads here, just set my drink in the aisle love..".

Bing! You are free to move about the cabin!

What I plan on wearing in the friendly skies tomorrow morning.

Robert Clergerie wedges, Elie Tahari seersucker trousers, Floral Belt Danese Creations, Ellen Tracy jacket, Cosabella green tank, Silpada pearl necklaces and most importantly a Sam Harvey bag.

Photos by Eva Serbin and Lara Serbin

Yielding Yarns About Yardage

2010-07-21T19:50:00.000-07:00

Some expensive silk YARNS I bought in Laguna Beach from Strands and Stitches. I don't really know what I am going to do with them. I make this up as I go. The marine green fabric is the pocket fabric for my jacket.

You remember the one, right?

I am teaching myself each step of the way. Chanel would only use tweed and silk lining. Boucle, which I am using is really soft and likes to move about. To give it body it needs stability. I quilted the silk lining to the boucle with veritcal stitches all 1" apart. The amazing thing is that you cannot detect the quilted stitches on the finished side. Most couture jackets have lots of stiffeners and reinforcing added inside the construction but over time any silk lining tends to slump and sag. My jacket is beautiful inside and out. No slumping will happen here!

Only the boucle is machine sewn together. The silk lining is hand sewn to the boucle seam. This task took me about 3 weeks to do. Hand stitching each seam together was like dancing with Yule Brenner. At first there was hesitation. After about the 4th seam I started to waltz through it. I would start with each stitch, following the Y-COORDINATE, to the right, the left and down to the center. I like how the seams became tighter and cleaner with each try. After finishing a seam, I would want to do it again and again.

4 seams coming together at the shoulder.

The orange thread is a basting stitch, to hold the silk down in place so I can hand stitch it down. YEAH, the basting is just scaffolding! The black and while pattern is YING and YANG. Too bad nobody will see it when I finally wear this jacket.

This was taken before I even started to hand stitch the silk down. See the seam on the right buckle, well it is all smooth and beautiful now.

I made this YESTERDAY, but it needs to be 1" away from the neck line. Need to take out the YARDSTICK for the next one. YES, this is the first time I ever made a shoulder pad. Good thing I have lots of horse hair canvas YARDAGE.

Rubber Necking Over Peeled Paint Again

2010-07-15T20:08:00.000-07:00

It was thick 112 degree heat in the air. I had some roller skating songs playing in my Prius while heading out of Historic Buckeye, Arizona. Fruit stand people, cats and pack rats were standing in the shade. I saw something out of the corner of my eye that made me want to stop the car on the side of the country road for a closer look.

It was a wonderful old bus sitting all by itself baking in the Arizona sun. The photo above is a lazy snap *photo taken with just hanging the camera out our car window*. I thought to myself, "It would be better if I could get closer." The bus was wonderfully aged with patches of blue, gray and rust.

I pulled up the drive and just decided, "What have I got to loose?" Nobody is going to shoot a woman wearing a black silk binocular print dress in the middle of this still late afternoon. A gentle looking aged woman answered the door. I was relieved. I had this. I gave her my card and just asked if I could take some photos of the wonderful bus in her back yard. She smiled behind her paper mouth cover that Micheal Jackson used to wear. In her dark house I saw a man sitting with his back to me. I had clearance. My heart raced as I scuttled to the dust bowl of a back yard.

Red cat was laying under the shade of a big cotton wood tree. I said hi to her but she walked away.

What year do you think this bus is? Isn't it fantastic. It is so perfect.

I love it because....well why do I love it? Maybe because I see the past as being more pure and innocent than the present? Because I can see kids with slick vaseline hair boarding this bus listening to the bus driver's Motown? I just get excited over history's trinkets. I rubber neck for peeled paint.

Proof that the 50's weren't really in black and white? Oh the simplicity of this light fixture. You just replaced the light. You didn't have to take apart the car to reprogram the lighting systems.

As I was walking back to my car, a man about 90-ish in an electric wheel chair appeared. I could sense he wanted to chat. I found myself engrossed in conversation with Thomas Stocks who moved out here in 1950. He is a jack of all trades working as a plumber, electrician and water engineer for all the Buckeye wells back in the day. He told me it was his idea to paint his house pink. I asked him if he told his 'man friends' this; he smiled and boom, we were friends. When I asked him how involved he was with Historic Buckeye, he told me proudly told me how he was a Whisker Champ during the Helzapoppin' Rodeo of 1954.

Images of America, Buckeye page 60

Honestly, I think Thomas is the guy second to the left. I think I will pay him another visit when the weather is cooler with our Model A. He can't ride in it but he would like if somebody knocked on his door again.

I bet he had a brewski at Garza's back in the day. Totally.

My world slowed down talking with him. We shared personal stories. I put my dark shades in my purse and stooped low so that I was looking up at him. I was sweating in the broil mode of weather and my feet were wanting to bust free from my black wedge Taryn Rose heels.

I shook his soft skinned hand and was on my way.

Have you knocked on somebody's door lately?

Just Add Tri Tip

2010-07-12T20:48:00.000-07:00

Louis Jordan and Buckeye. This is what I have been chewing on lately. Louis sings a mean lick from the 40's. You should give him a listen you know. Go on. Do it. Today seemed like 3 in 1. I took this shot from Monroe Street in the historical downtown of Buckeye, Arziona. We have been awarded the Buckeye Park n Ride so of course guess who is going to do a bang up job on it. You know how I love to sponge the history of a place. This is only 15 minutes from my house!

This is the coolest corner on the whole ghost town street that you could miss if you sneezed like 3 times in a row or checked out the UPS driver's shoes.

Honestly, I cropped and sliced the best for you. I didn't include the boarded windows, dumpster divers, bbq joint that tastes like propane, jumble of crap in the front yards. I didn't include that OK. Just trying to keep the best and get inspired. It is working, I am seriously in love with this town. It is so raw and authentic. There is surplus of boarded up possibilities.

At this point, I think I know more about the historical landmarks than most locals. That's just how I am. Buckeye starts in 1888 with the digging of a canal that connects the Gila River to the Hassayampa River. They hand dug the thing with wood scrapers and horse power. They used to baptise folks in it. The town was built on cotton and alphalpha. Go agro dudes. The historical museum has tons of Hohokam Indian pottery.

Look at me, I am alphalpha!

I want this house. Just relocate to the alphalpha crop above. Copy and paste, there you go now. Show off. This treasure used to be a chicken farm and now it is surrounded by nastiness. Really low grade. I can't believe this little town is segregated. There is a sharp difference between houses to the south and north of Monroe Avenue. Just sayin. Why can't I ever have a short blog?

Hobo Joe statue at the entrance to the main drag.

I arranged a tour of this Eastman Cotton Gin today at 8am. It is glorious. There is nothing better than knowing the history of a place before a tour. This is one of the oldest cotton gins still around since the 19th century. The crazy thing is that about 5 years ago it was sold and all the gin machinery was taken out and scrapped in Mexico. They decided to cut trusses and other major structural supports to get the machinery out. We couldn't go inside but walking around outside was good. I looked in the windows and it was a broken cathedral full of perching pigeons.

I have to find a way of incorporating some of this into the Park n Ride.

After Buckeye I changed into my Scottsdale dress. Wrap dress, pearls and chunky wedges. I found just the right fabric samples at Kravet for some runners I am designing for a client in Paradise Valley. I want to go for this bar code design thing with pieces of fabrics sewn together. After Kravet showroom I bought 2 pounds of English Breakfast at Souvia Tea in Phoenix.

I took myself out to dinner at this place called Market Bistro in Phoenix. Are you still reading this. Really? OK. This place was a made to order salad bar. I just stood behind the plate glass and picked my 7 toppings. Of course I ordered the large size. After my salad looked like Cheops pyramid I thought I needed to add some protein. Grill master was next to salad mixer. All I mentioned was "Give me steak". The salad mixer goes *I am not kidding here* "Add Tri Tip!". But she had this weird voice inflection going on. Then the meat man repeated this command by saying "Add Tri Tip!" I was thinking "Gawd, do I get a frickin prize or vacation package? What in the hell are you people about? By the end of the salad I was almost laughing to myself outloud. "Add chicken *major inflection insert*, add 4 sides, add slice of pie". If I was salad mixer I would mess with grill master and say "Add oreo cookie, add cookie dough...add dinosaur...add hot mess".

Give It Up For X

2010-07-07T20:47:00.000-07:00

I took this shot looking up at this Frank Lloyd Wright beacon in Scottsdale Arizona. X marks the spot for Nordstrom Rack, the only thing worth anything in this center. This post is about finding the X factor no matter where you are. It is nice to have a focus wherever you are you know. I found some sweet X's last week.

Why do navy stripes looks so good next to the ocean?

Lots of peeking onto other peoples patios.

See what is on the other side. Tennis court looking through X. I did squeeze in some ball time.

X found in this Edsel. Ummmm let's just say NICE.

X found in Lang Park. Most of our outings included playgrounds, playgrounds and did I mention some playgrounds.

X can be washed away soon.

Dino drinking lemonade at Ruby's. Lucky Dinos. I bought about a dozen to give to my peeps. You want one?

X was across the street from our beach house. My favorite times were just walking to the ocean. The steep walk required me to grip my toes to my flip flops with each short step.

X on the cover of one of the books I bought at the California Market Center in LA. Little side trip remember?

X marks the spot.

Essentials.

X in the drum. Dino came from here.

If you could design your dream beach house what would it look like? I want this one. Well I like the casual layed back thing going on here. I love the idea about not worrying about getting sand everywhere and just letting it be kind of cool like the Haunted House ride is at Disneyland where the more you don't clean it, the better it looks. But... I want something nicer. Like this.

That mo like it. I would want it to be tidier. I am torn. Maybe I need a place I can just be dirty and wear my Vince striped shirt everyday and not care about cleaning.

Whatever beach house comes my way, I want this squirrel to be a part of it.

Let's give it up for X.

Lara Does LA Garment District

2010-06-30T13:21:00.000-07:00

There I am in Ashanit with my J Brand pants and Comme des Garcons t-shirt from Vintage Fashion in AZ.

today was like going on the alice and wonderland ride at disneyland but longer and well better. it just keeps getting better. honestly. i just got back from driving myself from laguna beach to los angeles. my mission was ashanti, an african fabric shop located right in the heart of the garment district in downtown LA. i guess it was fun because it was just me and the gps lady. i really have no idea of how to get around so the gps lady was in complete control. it was nice to be alone from the family. i need to be alone so i can think and listen to my roller skating music loud in the car.

oh so why was going to ashanti? well it just so happens that i have a new client in austalia who has just requested 20 sam harvey bags. she will sell them in her boutique. she has chosen from the kenya collection. well i didn't have quite enough fabric to complete her order so i found ashanti thank gawd! arizona didn't have any place where i could buy african fabric. when i say african fabric, i am not talking about zebra and leopard print. i am talking about batik like fabric with a wax light weight coating with dayglo colors and crazy patterns. i really like vilsco which is made in nigeria.

the shop was much smaller than i had imagined. you know i always imagine in architectural digetst terms. like there would be a conga boat to pick me up in the jungle like entrance with tiki lamps and bong bong drums leading me to a gigantic warehouse of african vlisco fabrics. this place today was much smaller.

when i parked the first place of refuge was the starbucks but they didn't have a public restroom. i had to unload before searching for ashanti. i found the ashanti out of the corner of my eye. it was really great to see seri the sweet lady i spoke to while i was searching online in goodyear. she was happy to see me but said she had no bathroom. she told me to go to the tall building down the street. when i arrived in the main lobby i found myself in the whole la fashion distict epicenter! i couldn't believe myself. i went from pinata strewn streets to this! fashion bookstore, fashion bistro, and marble countered sinks in the bathroom. i had to go to the fashion bookstore. i found a load of books that i bought. i will show you later. i have a beach down the road that is calling me to jump in it. so i am not in the mood to play with photoshop right this minute. anyhoo, i went back to ashanti and found 2 bolts of the most gorgeous vilsco fabrics for 2 new sam harvey bags styles. i can't to show you!

Seri from Ashanti, Los Angeles CA

i am taking photos of x's too, so don't get all bent that this is not about 'x'. you know i never really turn it off...

WANDERLUST

2010-06-23T21:30:00.000-07:00

This post is dedicated to Mom who is living in WASHINGTON right now while I do little lizard pushups on hot sizzly rocks in the convection oven I call home. Letter for this post is "W", so I WENT WITH Frank Lloyd WRIGHT as inspiration. I want to be with mom in this house by WRIGHT called Falling WATER at Bear Run. I would love to be on the cantilevered patios hanging over rushing water. The red is for my architecture professors for their drilling of this image into my head for all time. Now it would make a nice WALL HANGING.

Mom and I are having tea on this WET WATERSHED WALKWAY. WE WANDER around and WING it to Rufus Wainwright. The air is moist and the smell of the WALDORF salad that we are about to eat is WONDERFUL. WARDROBE you say? I thought you would never ask. Aren't you happy that I came prepared? Are you out there?

I love this Sunday School look that I am spying in View. The scalloped edges and wide trims are nothing new but taking classic to a more etsy craftly meets Hello Kitty makes me want to spend my WAMPUM. I feel a bag inspiration coming.

I especially want to put this demure collar on my bed side table and give it a kiss before I go to sleep tonight.

I settled for packing Prada for this trip. Screw the "W" for fashion on this post. It has to be those stockings and heeled patent leather heels so I don't get cold. This is what I WILL WALLPAPER myself in. The color would look like shit on me but I could make it work in a gray.

This bit 'o honey coat I will wear when Mom and I go WANDERING through the forest before it gets dark. We think the carmel color looks so pretty up against the red lazer tag splotches.

Mom can wear this knitted dress. She won't need a jacket because she will be so native and warm in the forest chillness. The bag is wonderful. It is a heavy knit cable made into a bag that you could use as a pillow. The red shoes are so Italian and sexy. I think if there was any additional red it would be ruined. Not even red lipstick. Restraint.

Even if Mom still lived just a few paces from me I wouldn't go over to see her on a Thursday night. Just knowing that her big heart is beating far away is a little weird for me. My brother Erik is with her for another week to help her settle her new nest.

WISH I WAS...there.

http://www.style.com/, View textile, Frank Lloyd Wright The Masterworks, Bruce Brooks Pfeiffer David Larkin

Visiting Vintage Fashion Inc.

2010-06-19T11:28:00.000-07:00

I am standing on the floor of Vintage Fashion Inc. in the heart of Phoenix, Arizona. This Rob't Groberg 1960's shift was the same shift that I spied looking through the store front about a month ago when I posted about Lola. Can I tell you how refreshing it is to know that this shop owned by David Sheflin is available to me and other fashion junkies. This place is oozing with authentic fashion couture from the 1950's to the 1990's.

As I was chatting it up with Cathyann, David's retainer, I started to pick up on the simplicity of the floor layout. The unique metal clothes racks were something from a 1920's movie set. The color coordinated vintage hanging lovelies were priced at a cool $45.00 to $350.00. Cathyann was bubbling with historical facts about each piece.Cathyann and I became fast friends when we remembered one another from the days of vintage costome jewelry shop Pizazz at the Biltmore shopping mall where I bought my first Miriam Haskell pieces. Lesson learned, never wear clip-on Haskell earrings while hiking up Squaw Peak. Yes, Squaw Peak.

Zebra print wrap dress, Diane Von Furstenberg 1970. Red palazzo pajama with tunic by YSL. Yum.

Minimal displays, elegent white leather upholstered chairs, and ummm the clothes. As Cathyann mentioned, "Not everybody is interested in the history, just looking for a nice dress.".

As for me, I felt I had come across a civilization that could speak my language outside of my blogging community. There was a deep VOLCANIC understanding and excitement inside.

1970's Gunne Sax

I wanted to try this on, but I needed 6 more inches of tallness. This dress reminded me of living in Oregon in the late 70's and being with my baby sitter who always made french toast with loads of powdered sugar while listening to Heart singing Barracuda. Did I mention that Sheflin has movie producers calling him from time for period pieces. He may have opened shop in November of 2010, but he has been offering his vintage couture and clothing by appointment for the last decade.

One of my favorites, Ceil Chapman, 1950. Chapman designed several pieces for Marilyn Monroe.

Classic peach dress by Geoffrey Beene. It has front pockets!

Sheflin is known for collecting vintage fashion since high school. This white Chinoiserie cabinet had sentimental objects of art such as a photographs, rare fashion books and French perfumes sitting on little boxes that looked like they had been stored for years in a tiny closet on a high shelf in a Parisienne flat.

Sheflin gives a piece an elegant perch to rest on.

Just when I think I am getting a grip on fashion houses and labels, David's rare book collection makes me hungry for more. This book about Peggy Moffitt that lives in the sacred breakfront, is worth another return visit. David, I promise I will wear white gloves.

Here is Peggy Moffitt in a 1967 vintage zine that is I am guessing is signed by Peggy herself since I saw a photo of Moffitt and Sheflin together in the sacristy, I mean cabinet.

I did end up buying the spring green shift for a sweet $120.00 and a Peggy Moffitt silk screened Comme des Garcons t-shirt. I am sure the Goodyear check out clerks could really care less yesterday as I proudly wore it. You know who was really giving me the once over were a couple teenage girls. Probably the coolest thing they have seen in a while in these parts.

Thank you David and Cathyann for your warm hospitality.

Vintage Fashion Inc. Fine couture and vintage clothing.

Tuesday-Saturday 11am-5pm or by appointment

4700 N. Central Avenue Suite 121

Phoenix, Arizona 85012 (480)280-6838

http://www.vintagefashioninc.avl.1stdibs.com/

Sam Harvey Giveaway

2010-06-16T23:03:00.000-07:00

SAM HARVEY handbag GIVEAWAY!

SAM HARVEY GIVEAWAY!

Shangrila Jadite Bag

Designed and sewn in Arizona. It has my finger prints all over it. Thank you to LovelybyM who is hosting the giveaway. Show the love and go visit!

Here I am picking out fabric for my SAM HARVEY bags.

I design my own patterns on Autocad dudes. Really.

Each SAM HARVEY bag is sewn with love and by hand. Are you feeling it?

Unfettered, Unadultered Fly Fanny Pack

2010-06-16T22:22:00.000-07:00

He does a mean UNDERDOG on the swings. What does your fanny pack say?

Hey kids. What's it? I have a new VIEW textile journal. This 306-ish page journal is ULTRA cool. Better than UNICORNS or UNKENNELED dogs. More military, flowy gauzy UNIFORMS. Oh and bigger buns. On the head. It is about Winter of 10/11 so there are wonderul fabric directions that involve giant ULTRASONIC knitted sweaters. Wanna see?

She is so not UNDERDRESSED. She may be UNDERFED though. Maybe. My need for this sweater is UNCRUSHABLE.

Special thanks to David R Shah who tells it like it is. David says that "According to a Gallup Poll for USA Today, 32 percent of Americans are saving more than they were a year ago." Hold on to your UMBILICAL CORD for this one, "In China, the elder generation saves from 40-50 percent". My UMBRELLA is not taking this well. It just broke, too much UNDERCURRENT.

UNCLOUDED YELLOWS

I skipped to the back of the View where the forecasts live. "These yellows, golds and tumeric oranges are set against a backdrop of passive neutral layers that emphasize their singular status, blithely eclipsing the competition with their easy energy."

Introducing, Knitwear forecast for Summer 2012

View Textile Magazine Issue 90

So 2012, the capabilities of thread will not be UNDERESTIMATED. Woven raffia textures, ruffled tea bag looking rosettes and ruffled organic gauged layers. UNDULATING tea bagger UNIFORMS.

UNFETTERED

This is what I like to do with yellow paint. You can UNDERWRITE it. Yes, I painted this.

Put all that in Lily's UNIQUE microwave. I want to see less cobra next time mmmmmmmmKay?