Sunday, August 30, 2009

(73) Days of Summer

As I sit here, confined to the inside (due to the smoke of the nearby fire and blazing hot temperatures) on my last day of vacation, I can't help but go over the last 73 days of my summer vacation. As most of you already know, I'm a foreigner here in the US, thus forcefully a college student in order to keep a legal status and although this summer we haven't had the opportunity to make a trip back home to Spain, I dare say I have had great summer over all!
Since the very beginning it has been a good mix of personal accomplishments (opening up my etsy store and starting this blog) and relaxation (reading a bunch of books, some short trips, concerts and movies).
Well, to make a long story short, I hereby invite you to take part of my (73) Days of Summer (by the way I loved the movie !!!) through this picture selection I have made for you:

Let's start with the reason of my confinement: the Station Fire in the Angeles National Forest. This is a picture of the humongous cloud of smoke yesterday, when the air quality was still somewhat better than today.



This is at the beginning of summer, when I was setting up my jewelry workshop in our garage. Mikki made the workbench actually "'workable"


This is our friend Yasmina. savoring a breakfast bagel! She came over for a week from Japan. It was an amazing week of "staycation" for us, and we had a blast! Nothing better than having old friends coming over to visit!



One of our highlights this summer was attending this music festival: Epicenter '09.We had a great time, although it was unbearably hot. It made me remember those good old days, when getting to a big gig was an entire mission and soooo exciting ;)


Another great thing about my vacation, was being finally able to have a look around downtown LA during ArtNight! Such an awesome place for people watching and idea collecting!



May I present: stunning Mikki at the XGames: we got to see some ridiculously crazy things, such as the first double front flip on a BMX bike in history!



But I was at home, too. And as a newbie in this blogging world, I was completely hooked to reading a lot of blogs and getting some amazing inspiration. This post
inspired me to make this wall-cat, "Gato". She is a great pet, quiet, clean and doesn't demand any attention whatsoever


Here is another picture of us with Yasmina. Isn't it the best feeling ever, when you see childhood friends and you realize you still love them? Mikki and Yasmina have known each other for about 20 years! Amazing!!!


Summertime = Concert-time! Here is a pic of one of Loyal Enemy's gigs, this one at the Universal City Walk.



At one of our trips to the beach, this pelican decided to stop by and stay with us for a while.



And last, but definitely not least: Mikki with his birthday present! Nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing, tops seeing him with such a cute smile on his face!


I hope you enjoyed my photo-trip through memory lane. I have to get going: a nice dinner and a movie with this cute smiling boy await me, to celebrate his birthday and the End of Summer!


Thursday, August 20, 2009

Escape to the Lake





Last tuesday we decided to escape the dreadful routine we've been slipping into, and head for an overnight stay at Big Bear Lake, CA. It turned out to be the perfect getaway: a mere two hour drive away from our home, but an entirely different world!
We had so much fun! A good mix of nice lunches, kayaking, biking around the lake, relaxing and cinema ("Funny People" in the small town theater).
What a great way of recharging energies, getting back having the sensation of having spent a week of vacation, working on our life plans - both short, very short and long term!
There is nothing better than sharing your ideas of the future with your "significant other" (sorry Mikki, I just love the expression!) and realizing how much you truly have in common, and how even without having talked about it before your seem to have been nurturing the same dreams and goals all along.
So get your act together, look for some places close to home (so you save some gas!) and head out there! No excuses, even if you are drowning in work, just take your laptop along :)

Saturday, August 15, 2009

The NIMO. harem pant

Click here to see more NIMO.harem pants

I know it's been ages since I posted the pictures of my "secret" embroidery project. The truth is, the final product has been sitting in my closet for weeks, waiting to be photographed. I finally had 3 photo sessions - being the model and the photographer at the same time has it's difficulties :) And finally I chose some pics that were etsy-worthy and posted my harem pants! ! They are my personal, modernized interpretation of the super comfy middle eastern harem pant (aka dhoti pants or low crotch pants). Ever since I got my first pair (and sewed about three for myself) they have become an essential part of my wardrobe. I love them, because you can wear them to any occasion, formal, fancy, and for everyday life. Another superb thing about them, apart from being super comfortable, is that you can wear them the whole year round! Just throw on a tank top and flip flops in summer or grab a cute pair of boots and a nice jacket in winter.
Right now I have to short versions in my etsy store, one is a military-khaki-green and the other is a rosé-beige. Both feature a hand embroidered bird design and are made out of a lustrous, shiny knit fabric.
I'm currently working on a longer version, too and on different embroidery designs.

Monday, August 10, 2009

Monday Morning Leaves


Over the weekend I've been looking at so many blogs about interior decoration and photography, that my urge to change things around the house and to finally take some pictures again, has only increased! So I guess, spending all that time reading other peoples blogs is not a waste of time after all, on the contrary: I find it very inspiring!
One of the good outcomes is that I finally went through my closet and managed to fill two pretty big bags of clothing that needs to go! Wish me luck, while I drive to the local thrift and vintage stores to see what I can get for old skirts, tees and some jumpers!
Another aspect of inspiration is the creative side, which I have been a bit reluctant to face, lately. So I have a couple of ideas and have decided that my last creative failure was due to a defective saw blade. I hope to head to my garage-studio this afternoon or tomorrow to dump the aforementioned blade and start all over again!
But before I can submerge myself in creativity I have to go out and buy some supplies - how I dread running out of stuff, especially when I'm in the middle of something!
As I said before, I am finally embracing the idea of taking pictures again, which I have been ignoring for the last couple years, only taking duty- photos of vacation, live shows and some etsy-worthy creations.
I just took this photo of the leaves creeping up on our living room window. I love how the light shines through them and the combination of the organic shapes with the geometric mesh of the mosquito net.

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Out 'n About

Bed, cushion and striped jersey tee from anthropologie
sewing machine on tiny bookshelf from urban outfitters
patterns by Dan Funderburgh
books: see links in text

Today I finally met the girls for lunch and "inspiration-shopping", which is shopping without actually buying. Instead, you go home with your head full of new ideas and a full wallet!!! Try topping that during the current economy :)
So now I have a bunch of new (and old) ideas that I can't wait to work on. Especially screen printing, I'm currently thinking totes, dishtowels, cushions... combining print with embroidery, floral, plaid, stripes, etc... (sorry, my mind just keeps racing away!) Actually in one of the books I was browsing through, I found an amazing pattern designer/artist: Dan Funderburgh
Now I truly want to work on some more combinations of fabric or leather and metal for jewelry (I tend to like the combination of "delicate and rugged" in all aspects of art (music, design, print, fashion, etc).
Oh, and then I found all these books I desperately want to own!
- Naïve. Modernism and Folklore in Contemporary Graphic Design. Published by gestalten(check out their website it's really worth it!!!
-Patterns in Fashion, by Macarena San Martin
- Tartan: Romancing the Plaid, by Jeffrey Banks, an amazing book about the history and the different uses of plaid
So, as you can see, I'm very excited about getting to work and only hope I'm still as excited tomorrow :)
Enjoy the links!


Tuesday, August 4, 2009

I'm featured in a Treasury!!!!

I just just relisted my first sale-item, when I got this very nice message from Hailey Rose @ impulseART saying that she was including me in her"When Morning Came" Treasury!
This is the first treasury I'm in and it's so very exciting!!! Thank you so much, Hailey!

Saturday, August 1, 2009

First Sale!


Is there a better way to end a day with a "first sale" on etsy? I guess not, and even more so if the day started as ordinary morning full of domestic chores (think car wash, major groceries, kitchen & bathroom cleaning - good lord!!!) only to evolve in to a creatively frustrating afternoon. I was seriously starting to feel depressed, when I decided to check my mail and BAM!!! First sale on etsy!!! Thank you so much pedigree lady, for making my day!!!