Girl Is Poison

Issue #4 MIA

2009-03-03T11:11:00.000-08:00

It's been a while hasn't it? I had meant to have another issue by now but things have been...hectic. Let's just say that having a baby really wreaks havoc on your routine. Speaking of routines just when I think we've established one she goes and changes it. So that's why no issue, well part of the reason. Factor in my business, my studies and a new venture I've begun as well as my habit of biting off more than I can chew and there you go! I have articles planned, I just haven't gotten around to writing them yet. I'm not sure when I'll continue the zine. I love this project though and one day I hope to write an ebook based on it. So for now I'll be focusing on my new collection for Girl Is Poison: Classic and my new side business: www.travelingseamstress.com. I will keep you updated on both for sure. The zine will be back one day, just maybe not this quarter.

As usual anyone with submissions, questions, comments, free Snicker's bars please comment below or email me at thatgirl@girlispoison.net

New way of doing things

2009-01-12T15:18:00.000-08:00

Hey Everyone,

I've been so busy lately. I'm working on some things for my shop, while working on my Spring collection, while sewing things for myself, while catching up with people I haven't talked to in years. Oh yeah and more... So I wont be publishing a January issue like I had hoped. In fact I wont be publishing monthly after all. Issues are going to be coming out about 4 times a year. But they will be bigger and jam packed with fun stuff for your amusement. In order to make them as interesting as possible I need more points of view! So anyone who waould like to submit something please contact me. thatgirl a t girlispoison d o t net. I'll consider articles, interviews reviews, tutorials, photos, recipes and pretty much anything indie/crafts/fashion/DIY related. The next issue's theme is "Ultra Fem". The debate topic for the next issue is posted below. Anyone care to go head to head with me?

~Lux

Happy New Year!

2008-12-31T11:16:00.001-08:00

Hey Everyone,

Just a quick note to wish everyone a happy and safe New Year's Eve. I ended up not going north for vacation after all, the weather made the driving unsafe. So I kept my store open this whole time. I will however, be closing it later today. Until then there a few items left all under $10: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5013829 After I close the store you will not see these items again at these prices. I have decided to stop underselling my work. I know the quality of my work and I know the value of what I do, so in the future items will be priced accordingly. These particular items may or may not be there when I re-open but if they are they won't be listed at these prices. Just a heads up in case you had you eye in something. :)

Aside from that, expect great things from Girl Is Poison this year! I have lots of plans and my Spring collection: "Classic" is coming along nicely. If you like vintage style but don't want to look dusty and moth eaten then this one is right up your alley. Everyone have a good time tonight, I know I will!

~Lux

I have a goal:

2008-12-10T17:49:00.000-08:00

I need to make $100.00 in the next 24 hours. Everything in my shop is under $10.00 so I'm posting everywhere I can think of. I'm also open to suggestions!

Etsy
Buy Handmade
GirlisPoison

Have you ever had to come up with a certain amount of money in a hurry? What did you try?

December Issue

2008-12-09T10:49:00.000-08:00

Hey guys,
There will be no December issue because I will be going on vacation soon and won't have time to make one. However Issue #4: "Ultra Fem" will be published in January and will contain some really interesting articles including the debate: Feminism: Long Haired, Dress Wearing Women Need Not Apply? We will basically be discussing what makes a feminist and how clothing comes into play. For example would a woman that takes extra care in her appearance, or one that is a stay-at-home mom, or a girl that participates in beauty contests be considered a feminist by today's standards? I know where I stand. How about you? I am considering submissions on this topic from everyone and anyone! Please share your opinion with me. I'm hoping to get more than two voices for this. :)

Submissions should be sent to: thatgirl a t girlispoison d o t net

Issue #3: The 80's!

2008-11-30T13:31:00.000-08:00

14 followers and counting...!

I grew up in the 80's and it was a crazy time, not just for me but for the whole world. So many things were going on in politics, pop culture, world events and technology. It was a very interesting time to be alive as I'm sure those who lived it would agree. What I loved about the 80's was the music, the movies, the clothes and especially the toys! But one of the events that touched me the most as it did a lot of people was the Berlin wall coming down. I remember seeing it on TV and there were many people so filled with emotion. So many tears shed. Even though I was too young at the time to really understand what was happening, I knew that I was witnessing something huge. In the 80's everything was huge from the hair to the social concerns. People were becoming aware of AIDS. And who could forget the crack epidemic? It touched so many people's lives. It was such a society ruiner that it's amazing people are still doing it today. And of course there was the ever controversial Madonna. Back then she was still cutting edge, now, kinda gross. Anyway this being a more crafty type zine, I decided not to delve into the heavy stuff. Although I could probably write 50 zines about the 80's, I decided to stick with just this issue and a few topics. but if any of you have something to add, I'd love to see it. Feel free to comment with your thoughts or send submissions to thatgirl a t girlispoison d o t net.

Hope you enjoy the issue!

Blast To The Past!

2008-11-29T14:42:00.000-08:00

You can relive the 80's with these shops even if you weren't there!

@ Etsy:

80sdiva offers free shipping on purchases $100.00 or more. Go 80sdiva!

80sLOVE has THE coolest necklaces all made with vintage charms.

80sRetroKid is the place to find the old toys you wish your mom hadn't thrown away.

CatseyeVintage features vintage gems from eras of the past including the 80's of course.

dirtybirdyvintage = vintage clothing, art and housewares

honeybeevintage has great pieces and manages not to fall into the ridiculously high priced vintage trap!

I love MaidenRaptureVintage's awsome photos...

Punkv0uge features a section for the guys.

Reruns has...well everything!

Don't have an Ety account? Sign up for free here!

Indie Designer Crush: Indiscretions

2008-11-28T10:56:00.000-08:00

Indiscretions: Do you dare?
By Lux

I have known Mara, owner and designer of Indiscretions, for so long I couldn’t tell you how we began our online friendship. However, I’m no less glad that Mara is still around when so many other DIY designers that launched clothing labels around the same time have gone by the wayside. Indiscretions, and now Haute Indiscretion, continues to be a source of inspiration for me as a designer as well as for others in the DIY community.

This one is my favorite!

At first glance, many wannabe fashionistas probably would not know what to think of Mara’s funky and eclectic style. They may even shun it as being too “out there” or “off the wall” without seeing it’s true value. They might take her self-described, tongue-in-cheek approach to fashion as a sign that she is not a serious designer. Those who do would be dead wrong. There is a method to her madness, so to speak. Indiscretions as a clothing line is as unique as it is possible to get. Most of her pieces are OOAK (one of a kind) and as you can probably tell from the photos below you will not find clothes like this anywhere else. Even the fashion forward clotheshorses of Japan couldn’t dream up the garments that Mara does. It’s this kind of out of the box thinking that makes Mara such an inspiration in a sea of look alike t-shirt surgeons. She manages to keep a DIY aesthetic without doing what everyone else is doing. With an MA in Costume Studies/Decorative Arts from NYU as well as a BFA in Jewelry/Metalsmithing and Art History she definitely isn’t doing what everyone else is doing; she’s in a league all her own.

Mara’s studies at the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art have helped hone her skills in garment construction and pattern making, as any seamstress knows, this is not so simple a task. Her experience there also taught her a lot about textiles which, unfortunately too few indie designers know too little about. Her travels around the world have supplied her with ample inspiration as well as the rare materials she uses to bring her vision to life. As can be seen from her distinctive designs, Mara loves to experiment and does so frequently. A woman after my own heart! In addition to sewing and designing, she has also painted and even blown glass. This desire to work in different mediums adds another layer of interest to her designs. In addition to these other artistic pursuits and running her own business, Mara is a fixture in her local fashion and art scene. She has several fashion shows and collaborations with models and photographers under her belt.

Mara, who is based in New Mexico, is married and a proud parent of two. She has always had the aspiration to create an (in her own words) “unusual and unforgettable” clothing line. Not only has she succeeded but she continues to push the envelope and to challenge the rest of us to make our most out of the ordinary ideas a reality. Much like the heads of the major fashion design houses, she is so filled with creative energy that she would probably not be happy making the same garment over and over again. One day she may just have a team of worker bees to do that for her…

Inspiration located here:

Indiscretion (official site)

Mara's Blog

On LJ

My Space Page

Model Mayhem

More Photos

Coming Soon: The Rest of This Issue

2008-11-26T14:59:00.000-08:00

So I had a few difficulties with the "Indie Designer Crush" piece for this issue. I will instead be posting something else to make up for it, but since these problems only came to light recently, or rather developed over time, I don't have anything yet. But I will be working on something this weekend. So until next Monday...see you guys! I'm taking a turkey break.

Gobble. gobble.

Happy Thanksgiving all!

Click here.

~Lux

Tutorial: Off The Shoulder Crop Top (w/ sewing pattern)

2008-11-25T18:12:00.000-08:00

80’s Off The Shoulder Crop Top

By Lux

Difficulty 2 out of 5

Materials:
Girl Is Poison Sewing Pattern: Piece 1 & Piece 2
1 yd stretch fabric (cotton knit works great)
Sewing machine or serger
Scissors
Pins
Thread

1) Wash and dry fabric to preshrink.

2) Print out the pattern pieces on standard size paper (8.5X11“). Cut them out along the bold black lines. Since these may not print exactly the same on all printers you may need to extend the lines to the very edges of the paper and then cut. Your pieces should end up looking like this: photo.

3) For S/M cut out your top pieces following the directions on the pattern and mark the symbols (stars, bolts, “flashes”). For M/L add 2” to each piece width wise. You should end up with 4 pieces: 2 sleeves, 1 back and 1 front. (photo)

4) Take one sleeve and with the right side facing in match up the ends with the flash symbols and pin. Do the same to the other sleeve. (photo)

5) With right sides facing each other pin your front to your back matching the edges at the star symbols. (photo)

6) Sew the pieces where you have pinned them 5/8” from the edges. Sergers work great for stretchy fabrics, but if you don’t have one you can use a straight stitch. Just set it to a longer length and lower the tension a bit. Or if you prefer, you can use a zigzag stitch to prevent fraying depending on the type of fabric you are using. (photo)

7) With right sides facing each other, pin your sleeves to your top matching the edges with the lightning bolts. Make sure your underarm seam matches up directly with your side seam. (photo)

8) Sew the sleeves onto your top 5/8” from the edge. Turn your top right side out and it should look like this: photo.

9) At this point you can finish the edges a couple of different ways. You can do a traditional hem by folding the edges over and straight stitching. You can serge the edges for a DIY look or leave them raw. OR you can band them like I did. (photo)

Adding Bands with Knit Fabric

I recommend banding. It makes the top look more polished and it’s super easy to do. To finish your edges by banding you will need to cut out long strips of the same type of fabric. You can use a contrasting color like I did, but make sure it is the same type of fabric or at least very similar.

First decide how wide you want the band, double that and add 1 ¼“. Next measure the edge you would like to band. You can do this by laying the top flat, measuring across doubling that measurement and subtracting 1“. Use these measurements to determine the size of the strips you will cut out. Do not add anything to the length for allowance, you want the band to be slightly smaller than the edge so it fits against you snugly. For example: my neckline measured 16” straight across and I wanted a 1” band so I cut out a piece measuring 3 ¼” by 37”.

Next, with right sides together, sew the two ends of the band together 5/8” from the edge. Turn it right side out, fold it in half lengthwise and iron it flat. Pin the band to your top matching the raw edges. Sew the band to your top. Since the band is slightly smaller you will have to stretch it a bit as you sew. Don’t stretch too much though or you’ll get an uneven look.

Repeat these steps for each edge and there you have it. Your 80’s off the shoulder top is done. Now you can break out your bicycle shorts and layer your top over a sports bra. Don’t forget the sweatband! :)

Tips:
~As with any pattern you may have to alter it to fit your body the way you like. One way to do this is by adding darts in certain places.
~You can also cut one or both of the pattern pieces smaller or bigger.
Variations:
~You can make a mini dress by lengthening the Front/Back piece by a few feet.
~Or make a long sleeved top by lengthening the Sleeve piece.
~You can add interest to your top by cutting the sleeves in different fabric.

Tutorial: Yarn Falls

2008-11-24T17:55:00.000-08:00

Create an 80's punk hairstyle (like Cyndi Lauper's!) without dying your hair. Another awesome video tutorial by Emily from The Other Scene:

Check her out here: TheOtherScene.com & The Other Scene on Etsy

Debate: The 80's totally sucked...or did they?

2008-11-22T16:52:00.000-08:00

Why The 80's Sucked
By Emily Buresh

The 1980’s were an interesting time to be alive. Though I did see the entirety of the 80’s, I was still a kid. What I do remember was vibrant and full of color. It was the time when whites could dance and still look cool, punks began to hit the scene, life was full of hope to help the world, and the horror movie genre brought some scary creatures. However, not all of the 80’s were fun and games, in some major ways, it truly sucked.

I do stop and think back now and again when I hear a song on the radio. I remember Saturday morning cartoons and wanting to actually get up early to see them. I wanted to be like Cyndi Lauper while the other girls wanted to be like Madonna. I use to watch Breakfast Club over one of my friend’s house. It wasn’t always so fun. I remember the hardship my family went through, having problems with school, and not having enough money to afford the decadences that the 80’s brought about.

One major thing I do not miss from the 80’s is the hairstyles. Don’t remember? Allow me to begin with the Mullet. I know it was all the rage in the day, but frankly I never cared for it. It looked like you could only afford half a hair cut. Yes a mullet is "All business up front and a party in the back (include hair toss)", but wow. Granted the Mullet has been around for a while now, but the 80’s took it to another level. Some regions of the US, it is still popular and "in style". I think it needs to be retired in a deep black hole, never to see the light of day again. The bouffant of the 80’s got more and more outrageous as time passed. The amount of Aqua Net needed just to carry out a look I personally feel attributed to several holes in the atmosphere. If you didn’t sport the proper hairstyle, then you were considered uncool.

The 80’s also brought about the lifestyle "You can never be too young, too rich, or too thin". Money made this world go round. Everything and everyone could be bought, just depended on how much. Drugs propelled many in the modern world of technology. Anyone could get rich so long as you’re willing to pay the piper. This entire lifestyle didn’t take too long to burn out and completely crash.

The music and media of this time were very eclectic, bringing the end to disco and the beginning of the Kings of Metal, Michael Jackson began to become white and disturbed, and Milli Vanilli had just begun their scandalous journey. Pee Wee’s Playhouse was hysterical and entertaining. Unfortunately these icons of the media we all looked up to had a tremendous downfall. Some of the Kings of Metal still are out there rocking hard. However, the time for a lot of this is long gone. Stadium rock was beginning to bud and the artists who use to rock, for the most part still do. The newer artists somehow don’t carry the deifying qualities that the old school rockers did.

The biggest event I remember is the Challenger Space Shuttle that exploded in 1986. It was the first to have a teacher in space who was a local hero for us since she was from New England. It was absolutely devastating and had grounded the shuttle fleets for the next two and a half years. It did fuel a generation to explore space travel and space exploration, but that tragic day still holds a place in our souls.

After all is said and done, it was an interesting time to be alive, but I wouldn’t want to repeat it ever again. So when you hear the scintillating thrill of an early synthesizer or a tune that makes you want to break down and dance, think of the 80’s and just see how far we have come from the days of the Mullet and such tubular radness…Not!!

Check out Emily's gorgeous accessories here!

The 80's Totally Ruled!
By Lux

Twenty years ago today you would have found me watching The Smurfs and eating Cap’n Crunch in my Barbie pajamas while the musical stylings of Easy E wafted in from the other room. The year was 1988 and what is probably one of the greatest decades for creativity was still going strong even though it was supposed to be winding down. The 80s were so significant to various types of art and culture in fact, that they actually ended up continuing into the early 90s! Headbanger’s Ball ring a bell?

If I could choose just one word to describe the 80s it would be: fun. I grew up in the 80s and like anyone’s childhood, mine was a mixed bag of highs and lows and many things that were the complete opposite of fun. But even during the lows, living in a broken home, enduring abuse and all the other negative events that happened during that time I could always escape to my Care Bears. An imaginary world of characters with names like Apple Dumpling and Orange Blossom was only a short roller skating trip down the street to my friends house. Saturday mornings were, of course, the best though. A marathon of cartoons would play. One after the other from She-Ra to The Muppet Babies to Ghost Busters and they were all rad!

Later, movies and music would capture the interest of Generation Y kids like me. How can one not love the decade that gave us John Hughes movies and New Wave? The 80s saw the advent of Hip Hop which would go on to inspire artists across the board. The 80s brought us one of the greatest science fiction trilogies of all time! No, not that one, I’m talking about Back to the Future. Doy! And only in the 80s could Whitney Houston, Madonna and Guns N’ Roses co-exist at the top of the charts. Such diversity in all areas of pop culture were rampant during this time as would never be seen in quite the same way again and goddamit I miss it!

Let’s also not forget one of the most explosive elements of the 80s: fashion. Ok I know what you’re thinking, “Come on Lux, shoulder pads? Workout wear? Acid wash jeans??!” I won’t lie, a lot of experimenting was going on, to put it mildly. There were a lot of crazy trends. (Anyone remember the Hair Bear?) There were a lot of misses and a whole lot of WTF is that and who let you out of the house? But there were also a lot of hits. How many 80s revivals have there been in fashion in just the last ten years? Think about it, as far as trends go how many times have we seen the off the shoulder top? Or how about leggings? How often have today’s designers looked to the past, specifically the 80s, for inspiration? More times than I can count. While the most recent revival seems to be winding down, rest assured it will be back. Fashion in the 80’s was so wide-ranging that it will be a while before we finally run out of ideas to ~~steal~~ borrow. It may be hard to imagine the rainbow striped tracksuit coming back in style, but hey that’s what we thought about unflattering high waisted jeans with (shudder) tapered legs. Say what you will about fashion in the 80s, but it was never boring.

So in short, if you grew up in the 80s you were a part of one of the most interesting and fun times in history as well as one of the most visually and musically creative. If you were an adult in the 80s, you were probably still recovering from the 70s. And if you missed them completely you are now the consumer of a pop culture that is so desperately trying to re-create the glory that once was.

Screen Printer of the Month: Brave Moonman

2008-11-21T17:38:00.000-08:00

One Small Step for Brave Moonman, A Giant Leap for Style
By Lux

Self-proclaimed jack of all trades and master of none, Lindsey, is known for her fun and funky 80s inspired style. Items like mix tape pouches, floppy disk pins and calculator watches (!) share space in her Etsy shop along with the cool retro 80s style tees that first got my attention. Upon further inspection of her inventory I have decided that I want one of everything. And it appears that so do many others. Lindsey, who is based in Oakland, tends to have a lot of repeat buyers. It’s the same thing as trying to eat just one chip, you can’t have just one mix tape pouch. They come in so many cool color combos that it’s hard to choose a favorite. And who could pass up the chance to own a calculator watch? It’s a total conversation piece. You know that everyone is going to be asking you where you got it! With t-shirts and accessories inspired by the likes of Jem and the Holograms, nerd culture and even Lindsey’s own older brother; Brave Moonman is a total find for fans of 80s nostalgia. And it’s all operated by an artist who is barely old enough to remember the 80s!

With a degree in Apparel Design and Merchandising under her belt, Lindsey passed on getting a conventional job in the industry and started selling on Etsy in 2006 under the username lindseyporter. (She later opened an account under the name BraveMoonman.) Like many of her fellow “craft-trepreneurs” she resists the idea of a schedule and prefers to set her own hours. Also like so many of us, she was crafting practically out of the womb and couldn‘t imagine herself doing anything lame like working in a cubicle. When her signature Nintendo pouch became a popular item a friend suggested that she make cassette tape pouches and then those took off as well. The idea machine kept right on humming. Since then she has expanded her collection to include other items like her adorable mini 2X2 inch original paintings and my personal favorite: the black on gold tiger print t-shirt.

For now, Lindsey is taking her business one happy customer at a time. Despite her lack of “real” work experience, 100% of her buyers agree that her customer service is excellent. And it’s pretty obvious her product will keep people coming back for more. While she doesn’t know her ultimate direction, she is having fun and enjoying her craft and all the support she gets from fans of her work. The only thing that’s missing is your appreciation photo!

Get your dope Brave Moonman gear here.

Tutorial: Friendship Bracelet

2008-11-20T21:19:00.000-08:00

Basic Friendship Bracelet
By Lux

Difficulty: 1 out of 5

Materials:
Embroidery floss (in several colors or just a few or even just one, you choose)
Clipboard
Scissors
Your creative genius!

1) Measure out about 20 inches of embroidery floss and cut. This should give you plenty of “breathing room” in case you make a mistake and have to cut off and start over. Cut a few more 20 inch pieces. How many depends on how wide you want your bracelet. (I used 6 and ended up with a ¼ inch wide bracelet.) (photo)

2) Tie your floss pieces in a knot about 3 inches from the end and clip the knot onto the clipboard. This will help stabilize your bracelet while you make it. (photo)

3) If you have more than one color, choose a color to make the first row. (I chose red.) If not, pick any piece to begin. This will be string #1. Wrap this string around the string next to it (string #2, orange in the picture) in a clockwise motion (photo) and pull through. (photo)

4) Wrap the next string in the row (string #3, yellow in the picture) in the same clockwise motion. Continue on down the row until you have wrapped string #6 (purple in the picture). (photo)

5) You have made your first row. Repeat the wrapping process with string #2 (orange in the picture), string #3 (yellow in the picture) and so on. (photo)

6) Continue on in the same pattern until your bracelet is as long as you need it. Tie off the end and cut leaving about 3 inches past the knot. This will give you plenty of slack to tie the bracelet onto your best bud.

Tips:
-The more strings you add the longer they have to be in order to ensure a long enough bracelet.
-Keep your knots tight, this will help make the texture nice and even.
-These bracelets tend to twist. You can flatten them out by using an iron on a medium heat setting.
-To keep the individual threads of the embroidery floss from separating you can wax them first using a recently lighted candle.

Variations:
Try for a friendship necklace or a belt if you have the patience!

It’s An Inner-city Thing

2008-11-19T17:45:00.000-08:00

In the 90's Gwen Stefani dabbled in this style and put her own spin on it.

It’s An Inner-city Thing
By Lux

The 80’s were witness to a wide variety of types and styles of fashion. While not always explicable, it seems that clothing was experimented with more at that time that at any other time in history. Even today, true innovation is very rarely seen. Often designers, musicians, actors and others in the public eye look back to resuscitate some trend or another of the past and appear to be progressive. In fact, one can Google “80’s fashion” and countless pages of sites will come up. Browsing through some of them, one can see how elements of several of these styles have resurfaced many times since the 80’s. But there is one thing I have yet to see on any of these 80’s fashion sites. Site after site something is missing.

The 4 major types of mainstream fashion in the 80’s are usually represented: Hip Hop (ala Run DMC with oversize clothing, chunky gold chains and Adidas), 80’s Punk (torn clothing, spikes and studs, Mohawks and hair in every color), Glam/Hair Metal (BIG hair of course, inches of makeup, tight pants and lots of leather) and the oft ridiculed Preppy/Yuppie style (“young urban professionals“) which consisted of khaki pants or shorts paired with pastel shirts, sweaters tied around the shoulders, oversize blazers and a generally “clean cut” look. Then there are the various sub-genres within each of these groups as well as the rare, but occasional, cross influences. However, like I said, something is missing. Where are the Cholas?

I grew up in a lot of places but mostly in San Jose, California, in the poorest areas, dare I say the “ghettoes” of SJ. In the 80’s gangs were a huge problem. There were (still are as I hear it) two major warring gangs: the Crips and the Bloods. Within each there were various crews of course. But strangely enough, members on both sides of the feud, no matter what the crew, shared the same style. No matter what side you claimed the clothing was practically the same. It was so similar that it was almost like a uniform. Guys and girls both wore basically the same articles. A typical outfit consisted of a pair of Dickies or Ben Davis pants (cuffed and creased), a white ribbed “wife beater” tank top (sometimes air brushed with the particular person’s nickname) or plain white T-shirt, a flannel also called a Pendleton (red or blue depending on what your affiliation) and the signature Cholo hairstyle. Hair was a big deal. It was common for one to spend a significant amount of time on one’s hair. The look could not be completed without the proper hairstyle. Cholas and Cholos both had hair reminiscent of the 50’s which is, in fact, what they were trying to emulate if not in dress then in spirit. (The very first Cholos were the children of Latin American immigrants in the 50‘s. But back then they wore “Zoot Suits” which were basically cheap, slightly exaggerated versions of the pinstripe suits white American gangsters wore.) For girls the hair had to be teased and sprayed into a tall bouffant (think Elvira), for guys it was generally feathered back, moussed and often protected by a hair net. Adornments on the girls were kept to a minimum, the makeup however tended to be heavy on the eyes and the questionable lip liner sans lipstick trend seems to have began during this time. The guys had their own set of adornments as well in the form of tattoos. The Virgin Mary, gang affiliations, family surnames in Old English text and faces of loved ones who had passed away were popular. Some Cholos would sport prison tattoos as status symbols showing them to be “real” gang bangers who had served time. And the “rag” that those who had been jumped (physically beaten by several members of a crew) into a gang wore must not be forgotten. It was a paisley bandana in either red or blue. One did well not to get caught alone wearing the wrong color in the wrong neighborhood.

As I was growing up I was surrounded by people who dressed this way. This was what I knew. I was surprised to find when researching 80’s fashion online that this style was so under-represented. The crazy get-ups of Cyndi Lauper and David Lee Roth were what people on TV wore. No one I knew dressed that way, they’d probably get beat down if they did. The 80’s for me were: guys restoring vintage low riders in their garages, Motown oldies from the 50’s and 60’s playing from people’s tape decks and Cholos and Cholas cruising up and down the boulevard. Much like the other 80’s styles I’ve mentioned, this wasn’t just about what you wore; it was a way of life.

Issue #2: Halloween

2008-10-31T16:05:00.000-07:00

Cover Art: Spunny

I see we have 8 subscribers now! Yay! As you can see the theme of issue 2 is Halloween. Halloween is and always has been my favorite holiday. There was a point in my childhood when my mother decided that we were all going to be Jehova's Witnesses and so we couldn't celebrate Halloween, or anything else for that matter. I was really bummed for that whole year. It sucked giving up Chrstmas and my birthday and Easter. I was pretty upset that I couldn't make Valentines for my friends. But that was nothing compared to not being able to dress up and go trick-or-treating. I wasn't allowed to carve a pumpkin. I had to skip the class Halloween party. I wanted to celebrate it so much. I would have even taken the inevitable candy induced stomach ache like a champ. Alas, The Watchtower had spoken. Now as an adult I love Halloween more than ever. So I had to make this issue a Halloween issue. This month I've compiled lots of fun things to do, read and see. Tomorrow I will begin publishing all this good stuff including an interview with super talented designer Hilde, a couple of tutorials, a recipe that's perfect for your Halloween party and more.

Check back every day this week for something new. Oh yeah and tell your friends! :P

~Lux

Never Too Early To Plan For Next Year!

2008-10-28T09:47:00.000-07:00

Like the title says! If you want to have a kickass costume next year now is a great time to get started...

Etsy Shops:

AngelsBoutique has the most amazingly well made costumes I've seen on Etsy. Srsly.

UpfromtheAshes is affiliated with THE Amy Brown! She has wings, tiaras, masks and jewelry.

ViolentBelle has beautifully detailed head wear including cute devil horns. You can build an entire costume around one of her pieces.

rockinbonesclothing: perfect for those who are too old to dress up but not too old to look hot on Halloween!

babypop has cute super hero costumes for kids AND adults. Also takes custom orders!

Don't have an Ety account? Sign up for free here!

Misc. Links:

Halloween Online: pumpkin carving stencils, decorating ideas, costumes...I LOVE the recipe section.

Halloween Magazine : basically a one stop link listing to everything you would need to make your Halloween it's Halloweeniest.

Halloween on the Web: find haunted houses, costumes, pumpkins, crafts, monsters, party information and more. Also has forums!

History of Halloween: totally cool site. Everything you've always wanted to know about Halloween. Has video as well.

Have any cool links to share?

Tutorial: Painting on Fabric

2008-10-27T11:30:00.000-07:00

Here is a two part video tutorial from Emily. I tried fabric painting a couple times but never got the results I wanted. Here Emily shows you the right way to do it! Enjoy!

Fabric Painting
By Emily

Part 1

Part 2

Learn more about Emily here: The Other Scene (official site) and The Other Scene on Etsy!

Tutorial: Voo Doo Doll Necklace

2008-10-26T18:18:00.000-07:00

Voo Doo Doll Necklace
By Lux

Difficulty: 1 out of 5

Materials:
6 2.5 inch nails
1 dense piece of craft Styrofoam at least 1 inch thick and 5 inches round (or square)
1 ball of twine
Pen or marker
Craft glue or a hot glue gun
Ruler
Pin
Large plastic needle
Chain (optional)

1) Find the center of your Styrofoam piece and mark it. Push one nail into the. The deeper your nail goes the sturdier your frame will be, but make sure enough of the nail is protruding to loop the twine around. Measure and mark 5 points coming out from the center. Three should come out by about 1¼ inch (or more if you want a bigger doll). And two of them should be about ½ inch longer. The longer two will be the legs. (photo)

2) Push your remaining nails into these points. You’ve just made your frame. (photo)

3) Pull out about 4 inches of twine and secure the end of it to the Styrofoam with a pin. (photo)

4) Begin to loop your twine through the frame in a “flower” type pattern. The loops should be firm but not too tight. Pulling too tight may cause the nails to shift. (photo)

5) Once you’ve looped every outside nail 2 times (or more if depending on the thickness of your twine), pull out about 18 inches of twine from your ball and cut. Wrap this loose end around each of the 5 “limbs” tightly. Go around twice. Remove the pin and tie the two loose ends together forming a secure knot. (photo)

6) Very carefully, slide the nails out of the Styrofoam. Remove all but the center nail. Carefully, use the plastic needle to thread the longer loose end through the center of your doll while removing the center nail. (photo)

7) This longer loose end will become the opening through which you thread your chain, or string later. The loop opposite the legs will be your head. Loop the loose end over it so that it is about ¾ inch longer than the head loop. (photo)

8) Secure this end by tying it to the shorter end in a tight knot. Trim the end to about ¼ inch. (photo)

9) Pull out a few inches of twine and use the plastic needle to thread the end through the middle of you doll. Wrap this end around the head once and tie into a knot. (photo)

10) Make the lower torso by bundling the legs together and wrapping for about ½ inch. (photo)

11) Pick one leg and begin wrapping it all the way to the end. Reverse the direction and wrap it back to where it meets the torso. (photo)

12) Do the same to the other leg. When you get to the torso continue wrapping up to where the arms meet the chest. (photo)

13) Choose an arm and begin wrapping it. When you reach the end reverse your direction until you get to the chest. Wrap the other arm the same way. (photo)

14) Begin wrapping the head. To make it round concentrate on the middle of the loop. Don‘t forget to leave a part of the longer loop sticking out so you can thread you chain through. (photo)

15) To finish cut the twine about 6 inches away from the doll. Use the plastic needle to weave the loose end into the chest. Trim the end. Use hot glue or a clear drying craft glue to secure all your ends and loops. String your doll on a chain or extra twine or even ribbon. The choice is yours! (photo)

Tips:
-When wrapping, do it as tightly as possible so your work doesn’t come undone.
-The thinner the twine you use, the more control you have over what your doll will look like, but you may have to do more wrapping to get it thick enough.
-Securing the ends of you limbs with craft glue is not necessary but it will make sure your doll lasts a good long time.

Variations:
-You can use other colors of twine to add details such as clothing.
-Hair can be added by using a plastic needle and some yarn or embroidery floss.
Once you get the hang of making these you can even alter the frame and adjust your wrapping technique to make animals like turtles or giraffes.

I showed you mine, now show me yours!

Fiction: Skin Deep Part 4

2008-10-25T13:52:00.000-07:00

Skin Deep: 4

Seeing the nurse’s face reminds me even more strongly that something just isn’t right. She looks so familiar. I know I’ve seen her somewhere else before, but it’s just not coming to me. It’s just beyond my reach. She shows me to a room and before she leaves tells me to undress completely and put a gown on. I undress. My heart starts pounding when I look down. It got worse in the last hour. I’m starting to feel nauseated. I have to lie down. The doctor comes in to examine me. This time I feel no attraction to him, just repulsion. There’s something about him that I didn’t notice before. It’s as if there is an aura of decay around him. I can’t even speak, I feel so sick. While he’s examining me he mumbles to himself and seems pleased with what he’s seeing. Finally he tells me to get up and go over to the mirror I didn’t notice before. Looking into it I start to cry. There are huge patches of black rotting tissue all over my body. Then anger overtakes me and I start to threaten him. He just laughs and tells me that the surgery came out exactly they way he had planned. Then he says something strange. He says there is a riddle that I haven’t solved yet. As he’s saying this his face begins to change. He is the client from the club. Now he’s the nurse who called me in. Now he’s the TV anchor from the news show. Finally he is a woman with a bullet hole in her chest. Without knowing how, I know exactly who she is.

I’m in a nightmare. I run out of the office, past the nurse, into the waiting room. I glimpse the magazine I was reading: The National Journal of Embalming. A wave of nausea washes over me. I keep running. I know if I can just make it home I can wake up from this dream. Somehow I do make it home and my boyfriend is waiting for me. I’m so happy to see him I collapse in his arms. He asks me what’s wrong, but I can’t even form the words. He takes me upstairs to my room and puts me to bed. As he looks down at me, his face changes and he becomes the most vile thing I’ve ever seen. He has patches of black rot all over his body. His hair is falling out even as I look at him and pieces of his skull are becoming visible. Then he speaks to me with my own voice. I don’t know what he says because I can’t hear him over the screams. I scream until I pass out again.

And that’s how I came to be here. Every time I wake up I feel good. I know I have everything I’ve ever wanted. I know that things are coming together for me. In this world my mind completely forgets what happened to my body. Until I get to the mirror that is. But sometimes, just sometimes, He likes to mix it up. Sometimes I make it as far as my car and get on the freeway where some one crashes into me and I end up on the shoulder. Then he comes along in one of his many disguises and shoots me in the chest only to have me wake up in my room and start all over again. The worst part is I can’t get used to it. Whether I go only as far as the mirror or as far as the shooting, I keep forgetting what happened right up until the moment I see him. Right up until the moment I see the mirror. It’s the same difference because we are now part of each other. I think that’s what makes me scream. He likes to hear me scream.

The End

Screen Printer of the Month: Rocky the Zombie!

2008-10-24T10:59:00.000-07:00

~~Screen Printer~~ Hand Painter of the Month: Rocky the Zombie!

By Lux

Twenty four year old artist, Rhiannon (isn’t that a pretty name?), like me is a fan of Roman Dirge. Even the quickest of peeks (though you’ll want to stay longer) through her Etsy shop Rocky the Zombie will show you how he has influenced her own art. Rocky the Zombie is a collection of adorable well designed shirts, totes and even onesies for babies with style! Her items are very reasonably priced and would you believe she hand paints her designs? She claims that each piece has it’s own alterations that reflect her moods but they are so well done that one can hardly tell they are not professionally silk-screened. While Rhiannon has considered silk-screening, she chooses to stay true to her art and it’s handmade esthetic. Creating each design from scratch is the most enjoyable part of running her business. She’s not however, just a one trick pony. Rhiannon also screenprints, appliqués and works with acrylics. This multi-talented artist, originally from Wales, has 8 years of education in art, illustration, fashion and textiles as well as a ton of experience. One only needs check out her cute, yet slightly twisted drawings to know that this is someone who knows her stuff. So you wont be surprised to learn that she has a Bachelor’s degree with honors. But like most true artists, her inspiration comes from real life. She credits family with teaching her the most important things.

Rhiannon got her start in the business side of things like so many of us did-selling on eBay. With encouragement from her boyfriend she put a single hand painted T-shirt on eBay and watched in disbelief as the bids climbed higher and higher. Her business became something more than just the hobby that eBay is for most people. It started booming. After that the decision of what to do after she earned her degree became clear: self-employment. Rocky the Zombie has been her job ever since. Not just a job, but a passion as well. Her well deserved success comes not only from genuine talent, but a love for creating. And it’s evident to every customer who receives one of her unique, hand painted items. What makes her work so appealing is best summed up in her own words:

“I LOVE black and white photography, and line drawings.. sometimes the most minimal line drawings hold so much more expression and emotion than an entire complex painting. And I love the simplicity in that.”

I couldn’t agree more.

Rhiannon currently sells through Etsy, here. She also takes custom orders. (Bonus!)

Fiction: Skin Deep Part 3

2008-10-23T15:41:00.000-07:00

Skin Deep: 3
By Lux

When I wake up I feel pretty good. The pain of surgery has still to touch me. I must have a higher threshold than I thought. I get up and go to my dresser to check out the goods. I didn’t really get a chance to see them before. They’re swollen as to be expected, but what I didn’t expect was the small black spot on one side. I reach for my phone and call the doctor’s office but get a recording. I didn’t even realize how late it was. Oh well I guess I’ll call tomorrow. There’s no pain so it’s probably nothing. Looking around the house I find that my boyfriend,
the dear rat, is still M.I.A. I call him but he’s still not picking up. He’d better not be out with some slut right now. Even if he isn’t, he’s still going to hear it when he gets home. This is unbelievable! I deserve better than this and what’s more I can get better than this even on my worst day. It’s so unlike him too. I wonder if something happened? Now I’m starting to worry. I check the messages and there’s nothing. I call his office, no answer. I even look for a note and nothing. Well if something really did happen I would know about it by now or I‘ll be hearing about it soon. I go over to the kitchen to make something to eat. I’m still not very hungry but I figure I should eat. Keep my strength up and all that. I take my food to the living room and turn on the news. It’s the sports report. Sports don’t really interest me so my mind begins to wander. I look up a few minutes later and notice that the anchor who usually reports the local news has been replaced by a woman. She looks familiar but I can’t place her.

I have no appetite. I can’t even eat. But I am really tired again. I start to doze as the new anchor reads a story of someone who died during a routine surgery. I think I hear her say the doctor who performed the surgery has disappeared. That’s what happens when you don’t do your research I guess. You get taken for a ride and it appears you can wind up dead too. More natural selection in action. But I’m too tired to care right now so I fall asleep.

The sound of my phone wakes me up. I’m in my room again. Funny, I thought I fell asleep on the couch. Maybe he came home and put me to bed. I walk over to the dresser and pick it up. It’s the doctor’s office. They tell me I missed my follow up appointment this morning and would I like to come in this afternoon. They have an opening, but it‘s in an hour. I tell her that my appointment was supposed to be next week. She informs me that it was today. I argue that it’s impossible because I only got home yesterday. According to her records I was discharged last Thursday. Something isn’t right. Someone in their office screwed up. But I take the appointment anyway since I am still worried about the black spot I saw. Before I hang up, the nurse assures me that it’s probably bruising. It doesn’t look like any bruise I’ve ever seen. I check it out now and find that it grew bigger overnight. A lot bigger. Now there are spots on the other breast too and there is some kind of odor coming off them. What. The. Fuck. They still don’t hurt. I’ve actually not had to take any of the pain medicine. But this better not be a huge problem or someone’s looking at a law suit. A big fat one. I get dressed quickly and run out the door. I don’t even have time to see if my boyfriend came home after all.

On my way to the doctor’s office I’m getting even more worked up. I’ve been in a haze for days. I can’t seem to stay awake for more than a few hours. I can’t seem to focus on anything for more than a few minutes. I have no appetite. My boyfriend is nowhere to be found. Now there’s some black shit growing on me. Oh and the DJ on the radio just informs me that it’s Thursday. How can that be? Yesterday was Thursday. What the hell is going on! I’m starting to get kind of freaked out. A lot of things are not making sense. Come to think of it I haven’t really seen anyone the past few days. Except for the nurse before I left the hospital, I’m wracking my brain trying to think if I’ve talked to anyone lately. But I can’t remember. Oh wait the cab driver. Of course! But try as I might I can’t remember what he looked like, or sounded like or any other detail about him. I’m not even totally sure it was a him. I don’t even remember paying for the ride. I must have been pretty damn out of it.

So after rushing to get here and driving through the worst traffic ever they make me wait. The bastards. I’m getting more and more irritated. What the hell? There isn’t even anyone else in the waiting room. But since I have class I won’t complain, yet. I look for a magazine to flip through. They don’t even have decent magazines here. My choices are Taxidermy Monthly and some medical journal. I choose the latter. While I’m browsing through it I see an ad for Formethanol. It’s the same medication I was prescribed before I left, but something about the ad is bugging me. Or maybe it isn’t the ad itself, maybe it’s the magazine I’m reading. Just as I’m about to turn it over to look at the cover again, the nurse calls me in to see the doctor.

To be concluded…

Debate: Sexy Halloween Costumes-If you've got it flaunt it?

2008-10-22T12:29:00.000-07:00

Flaunt it!
By Sheika

Growing up, I was one of those jeans and t-shirt girls with a no-nonsense ponytail. I had skinned elbows and chapped lips and all I cared about was wrestling with the boys. Video games? Check. Plastic swords? Check. Skateboard sketched all over with Sharpies? Definitely check, dude!

But I had a dirty little secret. I enjoyed the silly teen movies my girly cousins made me watch, especially the ones where the dorky girl everyone laughed at took her glasses off and became a beauty. I joined the boys in throwing bugs at the prissy preppy girls at school but secretly envied their pretty braided hair. All too soon, high school came and one by one my guy friends fell prey to feminine wiles.

I was left all alone to traverse the jungle, unskilled at the weapons of lipstick and eyeshadow. Black nail polish was a familiar friend but beyond that loomed the mysteries of mascara. The first time I picked up a pair of tweezers, I almost poked my eye out! No way was I trying that again. In fear, I ran back to my comfort zone and staked out the only style I could pull – natural, “bare faced” beauty (aka. I have no clue how to put on make up so I won't even try!) and comfortable clothes (read: jeans and a plain hoodie.)

Then it hit me like a 2 pound hairdryer. I scoured every store I could find for the perfect outfit. This turned out to be a gaudy sparkly thing in red and gold. To match was a pair of raggedy gold foil pompoms. That's right. I was a blond, pigtailed cheerleader for Halloween! My knobby knees stuck out from under the short pleated skirt and my awkward stick arms looked ridiculous waving the pompoms around. I got some funny looks and a few good laughs. Some said I looked weird, others crazy and some even called my outfit slutty. I was something completely opposite of what I was. I had transformed into someone I'd always been terrified to be, just like my little brother who chose to be Dracula that year.

To this day, I have worn fairytale outfits like Red Riding Hood or classic favorites like Dorothy from Oz. Who can resist those glamorous red shoes? Even tight vinyl Catwoman suits and spandex Wonder Woman costumes have seen their share of spotlight. I couldn't pull off a down-to-there cleavage shirt while grocery shopping and 6 inch heels would kill my feet. Fishnets have a tendency to snag on my toes and there is no way I'd go in to work with long red vampire nails. I may still be that awkward tomboy who wouldn't know lipgloss from blush, but for just one day I can be as silly and goofy or even slutty as I dare!

Learn more about Sheika here. :)

Dressing Up For Halloween: You’re Doing It Wrong
By Lux

Maybe I’m wrong on this one but isn’t it a bit disturbing that adult Halloween costumes appear to be getting skankier and skankier every year? I can’t be the only one bothered by this. Since when did a holiday that is so child oriented turn into a porn fest? Why did Halloween become an excuse to flaunt your body parts? True, there are places and times for such attire. Exotic Erotic in San Francisco is one example. If you’re going to a place like that then shit, do what you want. Private parties are another. But someone tell me why I’m seeing women wearing this crap to work on Halloween. Someone please explain to me when it became OK for moms to take their school age children trick-or-treating in these poorly made, mass produced getups. It just reeks of low self esteem and no self respect. I guess I’m just old fashioned. I guess I’m just a person that believes one doesn’t have to put oneself on display in this way to get noticed. It is a far more confident, interesting and intelligent person who can command attention while dressed modestly. Just look back through history. A great example of such a person was Jackie O. She never looked anything less than classy and put-together. Now she is remembered as a fashion icon. I’d be willing to bet money that it would have never occurred to her to put on a 5 inch long plaid skirt with a white crop top and try to pass it off as a legitimate costume.

Shouldn’t we strive to be like Jackie O.? Shouldn’t that be the example we set for young girls? Instead, one can walk into any Halloween store and see the same cheap costumes available for mass consumption. Choose from slutty cop, slutty maid, slutty school girl, slutty nurse, slutty angel, slutty mermaid, slutty girl scout (OK that’s just wrong!), slutty Alice, etc, etc, etc! Basically any profession/fairy tale character/archetype can turn into some perv’s fantasy. But wait, there’s more! If that isn’t enough to get your eyes rolling or your stomach turning, take a stroll over to the pre-teen section and see the same freaking costumes. Sure they’re a bit toned down and made to fit underdeveloped bodies, but they are basically cut from the same cloth so to speak. We’re training them young these days aren’t we? Training them to believe that attention from the opposite sex is the most important thing and that to obtain this they must present themselves as sexual objects. You may say: “But Lux it’s only once a year. Shouldn’t people be allowed to live a little?” Wrong, it’s not just once a year. This garbage is all over the media year round. We have some celebrity or other’s coochie making headlines every few months. What does that have to do with slutty costumes? Well the costumes may be a once a year occurrence, but they are symptomatic of a bigger issue. One that sadly doesn’t end November first.

But let’s put this aside for a minute. Let me now ask what do these mediocre rags have to do with Halloween? How do they celebrate the spirit of the holiday? Halloween is supposed to be about having fun with friends. It’s supposed to be about enjoying the sensation of being frightened. It’s about trick-or-treating, telling scary stories, watching horror movies and spending hours on a costume you’re sure no one else will be wearing because you put so much time into it. It’s not about uninspired hooker uniforms that would be better off left on the rack. Although, seeing 30 chicks in a row showing off their panties in the same slutty Snow White costume is kind of scary. I do not need or want to see your ass cleavage. If your nipples are this close to popping out of your top, you’re doing it wrong. If one can clearly make out the line where your thighs meet your butt cheeks, you’re doing it wrong. If the trim of you bikini line can be seen through your outfit, you’re so doing it wrong.

Maybe I’m a buzz kill. Maybe I‘m taking this all a bit too seriously. Or maybe I’m a sane person in an insane society. When you’re a mother of two little girls like I am, you tend to think about these things. I sometimes wonder what I will say when the day comes that one of my daughters tries to leave the house in a costume that barely covers her ass. But then I relax knowing that that day will never come because her mama will have raised her better than that.

Where do you stand?

Fiction: Skin Deep Part 2

2008-10-21T13:41:00.000-07:00

Skin Deep: 2
By Lux

So it’s a few weeks later and here I am on my way to surgery. I am of course nervous, but mostly thrilled. I can’t wait for this to be done! I know I seem extremely self-confident. Ok I’ll be honest, I’m aware of how most people must see me. Self-centered and arrogant are probably words that others would use to describe me. But the truth is I worked hard to get what I have. I spend so much time improving myself and my place in life that I deserve to be proud of it! I should be allowed to show off. If, in the process of me enjoying my success a few people have a problem with it then, oh well. Most people are not totally happy with who they are so when they see people like me they try to tear us down instead of taking steps to improve their own pathetic lives. It’s called reality. Heck I’m not 100% happy with myself. There has always been a part of me that feels I could look better. That’s why I’m getting this surgery. Let’s face it A cups don’t get you noticed. They don’t leave an impression. The entertainment industry has it’s own form of natural selection. People like me are held to a higher standard. Pressure is put upon us to be perfect. And to tell the truth I wouldn’t have it any other way. My life was never meant to be ordinary. Even though I already have so much to offer, after this doors will open for me. After this I will be the total package.

I reach the hospital and preparations begin. I’m dressed in one of those ugly gowns and being hooked up to all these machines. One of which is an I.V. going into my vein. Later Dr. Lords comes in and explains what will happen. I’ve heard all this before but it’s his job so I just smile and nod. The nurse then injects the I.V. bag with a sedative. For a split second I think I see the fluid turn black. But then I blink and it’s the same clear solution it always was. I start to feel drowsy as they wheel me into the O.R. Now they put the mask over my face. It’s strange, but before I lose consciousness the last thought I have is the image of that car on the shoulder of the freeway and the chalk outline on the ground.

When I come to something doesn’t feel right. I expected to feel groggy and in pain. That’s just part of the deal. But this feels like I’m missing something. Oh well. I’ve never had surgery before, disorientation is probably normal. I love how they already have me on the pain medication. As far as pain goes, I don’t feel a thing. My room is awesome too. It’s like a suite at a four star hotel. I knew this doctor was top tier, but even I wasn’t expecting this. Still, that feeling is there just under the surface. The drugs have made me drowsy though so I drift back to sleep. I spend the first few days of my recovery pretty dazed and hazy. It’s probably the drugs. I don’t mind. I’m sure the alternative totally sucks. Why be in pain if you don’t have to be? So the day comes when it’s time to go home. I’m happy to go. While the nurse has been taking good care of me, the uneasiness I’ve been feeling has not gone away. I attribute it to being here and not in my own bed. Also I have not seen the good doctor at all since before the surgery. Is that normal? Where the hell has he been? I have a follow up appointment so he can’t avoid me forever.

They send me home with plenty of drugs. My prescription for something called Formethanol contains 90 pills. Damn I hope I don’t need that many. How bad is this pain supposed to get? Then something strikes me. I haven’t felt any pain since I woke up. Not for a minute. Not a twinge. The meds they’ve had me on so far must be powerful but I don’t like the side effect of being in a fog. I think I’ll just hold off on taking these pills until I really need them. My boyfriend was supposed to pick me up but he hasn’t shown and he’s not answering his phone. A cab takes me home and I am thoroughly pissed by the time I get there. He’s usually so attentive. He knows I’m probably the hottest woman he’s ever been with so he normally treats me like a queen. When I get inside I find that he, of course, is not home. I don’t know what to do with myself so I go into the kitchen to get something to eat. But as I make myself a sandwich I realize I’m not hungry. Actually I can’t remember the last time I was hungry or even the last time I ate. Weird. I go upstairs. The familiarity of my room makes me feel a little better. Tired too. I pass out on my bed.

To be continued…

"Blood and Guts"

2008-10-20T13:40:00.000-07:00

This is a recipe that I came up with when I wanted to make something gross looking, yet tasty for my Halloween party. The taste is similar to Churros, which is a Mexican snack pastry that is deep fried. Enjoy!

Blood and Guts

Ingredients

Guts:
1 T butter
¼ c sugar
1 egg
½ c apple sauce
½ t vanilla
1 ½ c flour
¼ t baking powder
1/8 t salt
¼ t cinnamon
1/4 t nutmeg
1/8 t ground cloves
2/3 c milk
Vegetable oil

Blood:
½ c diced strawberries
½ c raspberries
2/3 c sugar

“Blood“:
1) Mix strawberries and raspberries in a bowl and crush them. Set aside.
2) In a small sauce pan combine berries and sugar and cook on med/high heat until mixture begins to bubble. Make sure to stir frequently.
3) When mixture is bubbly turn off the heat and continue stirring until it cools and reaches a syrupy consistency. To make your sauce thicker add more sugar little by little until it looks the way you want. To make it thinner add water little by little until it’s where you want it.

“Guts”:
1) Sift together flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and clove. Set aside.
2) Combine sugar and butter in a large mixing bowl.
3) Add egg, vanilla and apple sauce. Stir in completely.
4) Little by little add dry ingredients and mix them in.
5) Add milk a little at a time until the mixture reaches a thick “pancake batter” consistency.
6) In a large pot heat about 3-4 inches of vegetable oil on med/high heat.
7) When the oil is hot, use a ladle to pour small amounts of batter into the pan in elongated “intestine like” shapes. This make take some practice, but you’ll get it.
8) Cook “Guts” until golden brown and use tongs to flip them over and finish the other side.
9) Once both sides are golden brown remove them and place them on a paper towel to drain.
10) Serve with “Blood” sauce drizzled on top or on the side if you prefer. If the sauce has thickened too much, add a little water.

Cheats:
You can make an easier, quicker version of the “Blood” sauce by heating strawberry jam with a little water and pouring it through a strainer.

Tips:
Make the “Blood” sauce first as the guts are best as fresh as possible. This also gives the sauce time to cool and thicken.

Variation:
You can make “Worms in Dirt” by substituting the “Blood” sauce for crumbled chocolate cookies and chocolate syrup.

Questions? Post them here.

Fiction: Skin Deep Part 1

2008-10-19T13:59:00.000-07:00

So this is something I've been working on for a little while now. It's been...I don't really know how long it's been since I've tried my hand at fiction. But I thought I would write a scary story a la Tales from the Crypt for this issue to go with the theme. This character is loosely based on three people. 1)An incredibly arrogant girl from a reality show. 2)A fictional character from a teen drama series. 3)A girl I was sort of friends with (on the surface anyway) on the internet until recently. But those three do not 100% equal this character. She has a little bit of me thrown in, just a tad. And even though she's based on that many people she is surprisingly uncomplicated. hahaha So without further ado, here she is...

Skin Deep: 1
By Lux

I don’t know anymore how long I’ve been here. I’ve lost track. There are no days or nights. There is only waking and dreaming. Every time I wake up I feel good. I know I have everything I’ve ever wanted. I know that things are coming together for me. My career is going to take off. After working so hard and going through so much to get to this point, I’ve earned it. It’s at this moment, this very thought, when I start to feel as though something isn’t right. It’s like the feeling you get when can’t remember if you locked up when you left home. It’s small but persistent, nagging even. I can’t pinpoint what’s causing it as I get out of bed and walk over to my dresser. But when I get there and see what’s waiting for me it all comes back in an instant. That’s when the screaming starts. Hold up, I’m getting ahead of myself. I think I need to go back and start at the beginning. Once upon a time…

I have an appointment for a consultation with the best surgeon around. He’s going to upgrade my A’s to C’s and consequently my exotic dancer job to a part in a TV series. This guy is amazing. I’ve seen his work. He has worked on actresses, pop stars and socialites. I got his name from a client at the club I work at. Dr. Lords‘ specialty is implants. You know when the newest teen queen suddenly goes from a B cup to a full C and insists she’s had a growth spurt, but you can’t tell for sure? It’s him. He is incredibly in demand and I got an appointment with him. I really can’t believe how lucky I am. His stuff looks so real it would fool an ex-boyfriend. So I’m on my way to the appointment when this idiot cuts me off and I bump into her. My car seems undamaged but she is pulling off to the side. I consider stopping but I can’t be late, so oh well. I keep driving. I’m sure she’s just fine. Besides it was her fault she should be glad I’m not angry enough to stop and chew her out. I’m driving a $45,000 car. What a dumb bitch.

I make it to my appointment just in time. The doctor is very nice and unbelievably hot on top of that. It’s a good thing he’s a professional. Otherwise I don’t think we could resist each other for a minute. The initial exam goes great. We set up a date for the surgery. He doesn’t do payments. That’s not a problem for me, because of my job in such a lucrative industry I can afford to pay in cash. I can already feel my life getting better. It’s pretty great so far though. I’m 22. I have great genes. I live in a big beautiful house, well it‘s really an estate. I can come and go as I please. I have a boyfriend, he’s old but he’s loaded. He wanted to pay for the surgery but I wouldn’t let him. I don’t like owing anyone anything. I do however like the gifts he gives me, jewelry, clothes, the car… I have it made. All I have to do now is get that part. Dr. Lords assures me that I’ll have a quick and fairly painless recovery. I’m finally going to get what I deserve. All the recognition, the fans, the awards…I can picture it now.

I get home without incident. Looks like the idiot drivers called it a day. This thought makes me chuckle. I’m really quite funny, I’ve been told. I have a lot more going for me than just looks. I have a great sense of humor, I’m fun to be around and I’m also intelligent. For example a lot of people might be surprised to know that I watch the news. I turn it on now. The top story is about a woman who was murdered on the freeway. Apparently she was involved in an accident that jacked her car but the other car didn’t stop. Another person stopped under the guise of helping her out and ended up shooting and robbing her. What a world we live in. What is wrong with people? Then they show a photo of the crime scene complete with chalk outline on the ground next to her car. Oh no. It’s the car from earlier. I feel bad, but then again the accident was her fault and I’m not the one who shot her. Don’t get me wrong, what happened was tragic. It was truly, truly sad. But things like this are a form of natural selection. Survival of the fittest. If she was a better driver she might be alive right now. It’s the law of the universe. The world continues to move forward, often at a pace too fast for some. It’s not wrong or right. It just is.

To be continued…

Tutorial: Mummy Shirt

2008-10-18T17:35:00.000-07:00

This tutorial was submitted to my Live Journal community Sew Underground a few years back. It's an oldie but a goodie. It's very easy to do and makes a really cute shirt. Enjoy!

By "Razorhappy" on LJ

What you need:
-Five (5) panels of Mummy fabric for the torso.
~Three (3) narrow panels for the front.
~Two (2) wide panels for the back
-Two (2) smaller panels of Mummy fabric for the sleeves.
-Bias Hem Tape for the neckline.
-Black ribbon, or in a matching color for the back tie.
-Long rectangular piece of T-shirt material in a matching color for the waistband.

Pointers:
~Throughout this project I tried on the shirt to make sure it looked just right.

Step 1: Make torso figure 1
~Sew together the 3 narrow pieces together to form the front of the shirt.
~Sew together the 2 wide pieces together to form the back of the shirt.
~Sew the front and back together to form a tube top.

Step 2: Add sleeves Try on the tube top to find the right places to add the sleeves!!
~Sew the 2 smaller panels on the tube top for sleeves
~Sew in dart at the top of the sleeve, (where it poofs off your shoulder)
~Cut off excess from the dart to arm pit.

Step 3: Adjust neckline figure 2: the red is where to cut
~Cut out V-shape from one sleeve to the center to the other sleeve.
~Repeat to the back of the shirt.

Step 4: Add details figure 3
~Add hem to neckline. (See figure 4: the red is where to sew! To make the point at the neckline: unfold the bias tape, then fold the tape in half, vertically. It should now be completely inside out. Sew an angle where the point goes towards the rest of the tape, away from the fold. When you fold it back to right side out, it should have a point now sewn in!)
-Then add ribbons to the hem tape on the back!!!
~Add waistband.
~Hem everything else!!

Costumes!

2008-10-17T13:20:00.000-07:00

Instead of putting together looks for this issue I decided to post pictures of some really cool handmade costumes. Maybe these will inspire you to make your own if you haven't already. If you have then post them in the comments section!

Mayor McCheese needs no introduction:

Courtesy of Smarmy Clothes.

Two superbly made costumes. Maya makes it look easy!:

Courtesy of Static White Stitchery.

Probably the best mermaid costume I've ever seen:

Courtesy of Nicolette Le Faye.

I want it. Enough said:

Courtesy of Sew-Oeno.

And here are a few favorites I made from years past:

Fairies!

I wish I had not decided to sell this...

And the ever popular Alice:

Courtesy of Me!

What are you going to be for Halloween? Post your pics!

Indie Designer Crush: Hilde Heyvaert

2008-10-16T10:25:00.000-07:00

Full Steam (Punk) Ahead!
By Lux

Lux: I want to start by saying that ever since you started posting in Sew Underground I have admired your sewing ability. The construction of your garments is so perfect. Where did you learn to sew?

HH: Thanks, I really appreciate that compliment a lot, especially coming from someone as talented as you :)

I never had any proper formal training, my mum studied fashion in high school so she taught me the basics and I took it from there myself. Initially she didn't want me to use her antique Bernina machine because she was afraid I'd wreck it, but then she quickly realized I'd nag her to sew for me all the time so she caved and taught me. She also taught me to do heaps of things by hand sewing.

Lux: Aww thanks! I never had proper training either. Isn’t it interesting how so many of us never took classes of any kind? How much hand sewing do you do? I try to avoid it myself. Do you still use the antique Bernina?

HH: I think a lot of people are self-trained because it's not always equally easy to get formal training.

If you go to let's say, fashion college, that's often really expensive, and that is if you get in at all.

Sewing classes are often few and far between as well, and not all are actually appropriate for people that want to learn how to design their own clothes. Over here in Belgium most sewing classes are evening classes, which isn't always terribly practical to start with, and they focus on teaching you to make garments from existing patterns and to adjust them to _your_ body. That's all fine and dandy if you occasionally want to sew something from a pattern by one of the big companies for yourself, but it doesn't actually teach you anything about draping, adjusting patterns for others than yourself, converting patterns or heaven forbid: drafting your own pattern. I'm not saying there's no good classes outside fashion college, I'm sure there are, but odds are that they're at night several hours away from where someone lives.

I generally only hand sew when I'm doing bits that are requesting more manual dexterity than what you get with the machine. Sometimes things just look better hand sewn you know.

But no, I don't use the antique Bernina anymore, it's still at my parent's house. I don't think my mother would ever be able to part with that :) I got a cheap Toyota after using that antique Bernina for a couple of months, which was probably one of the most horrid machines on the market. Seriously, I am NEVER getting a Toyota again. After a year of heavy use the engine pretty much gave up completely. So we replaced it with a Bernina 1008, which I love. A couple of years ago Bert (my boyfriend) bought me a Husqvarna Viking serger (a Huskylock 905) which is brilliant. So I use those two machines now. I think that if I were to get a new machine, it would probably be Bernina or Husqvarna. Although that won't be in the near future as the ones I have now are still in perfect working order.

Lux: That’s true there is only so much you can learn from a community sewing class. Not that I ever took one but I looked into it a number of years before and found that I was way beyond what they were teaching already. Ha!

I had no idea Toyota made machines. I guess there’s a reason for that… I hear lots of good things about Viking machines though. I want to get one of their embroidery machines one day.

So you’re located in Belgium right? Are you from there? What’s the local fashion scene like? Do you see a lot interesting things or is it the same old, same old?

HH: I heard Toyota makes sergers as well, and I've heard nothing good about those either. I think it's best to just buy a machine that gets at least a very high percentage of "love it" type comments, like Bernina, Viking, Pfaff etc.

My advice to anyone getting a machine would be to go to a store that lets you try the machines and where they are willing to explain the entire working. I get all my machines at a small family owned place that does most repairs too. It might not be the cheapest place, but it does have the best customer service and in the end of the day, that's priceless.

I'm in Belgium yeah, born and raised here. We actually have a pretty renown fashion scene what with the Antwerp 6 and all that. And we have two fashion colleges of some international fame (the Antwerp academy and La Cambre in Brussels). The local fashion scene, well I'm inclined to say it's divided in two major parts. There's the academy style, which is basically more art than fashion (in my opinion) and the generally crazy "I'm fashion student so I dress outrageous" kinda style. And to counter that there's the same old, same old. There _are_ people around that have their own unique style, but you get those everywhere. I do see some seriously cool outfits occasionally so there is hope :)
Of course you see more individual styles in the cities, which are traditionally more open minded than small towns. I guess that's the same everywhere.

Lux: That’s so true. I just moved to a really small town and I get some odd looks even if I‘m fairly casually dressed. But if I go San Francisco for the day no one bats an eye. Do you always wear your clothes or do you save them for special occasions?

HH: Yes exactly! It's amazing that in this day and age there is still such a mentally difference between cities and towns. It never seizes to amaze me.
I mostly wear clothes I've made myself, but the main reason is that I've made most of my wardrobe :)

But I do have stuff I've got at other places, I love getting things from etsy and basic stuff from H&M. Some things, like my Halloween wardrobe, I save for October (and my Lost LARP character haha), and there are clothes that are also part of costume for something or other (mostly LARP characters) so they don't get much wear and I suppose they pretty much only come out for special occasions.

I guess it depends on which garment it is and what I want to wear that day :)

Lux: What is LARP?

HH: Live action roleplay. You can find all about the group I'm in on camarillabelgium.be ;)

Lux: Cool. J So you’re mostly into Steampunk fashion right? How did you get into that? What do you like most about it?

HH: Yes I am, I love steampunk.

I grew up with the books of Jules Verne, my dad read them to me when I was little (he's a big Verne fan too) and I remember that before I could read I was always looking at the pictures of Nautilus and other cool contraptions.
I love the entire mentality and concept behind it: the future past that never happened but could be in this time. I love that idea. And I've always loved the esthetic of Victorian and belle époque fashions. The bustle skirts and pouf sleeves for women and the tailcoats and waistcoats for men. I love wearing stuff like that in a contemporary way. And I love that at the very most the fashion has guidelines but no set rules. On the contrary to pretty much every other fashion style: people are pretty free to do whatever they want with it. There's such a brilliant diversity.

Basically I've always loved it, and at one point decided I was going to look the part :)

Although which part (adventurer, aristocrat, dandy, casual, mad inventor, airship pirate etc) largely depends on my mood that day :)

I honestly think I'm a lot more active in steampunk then in any other style I've ever been part of, I'm on tons of communities and forums and I write fashion articles for Gatehouse Gazette aside from being active as a designer.

I still design other things too mind you, occasionally I still feel the need to do something totally non steamy :)

Lux: Steampunk reminds me of this graphic novel called The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Have you heard of it? I know they made a movie but it does no justice to the comic. There’s some really cool art in there and the clothes on the characters are gorgeous! I’ve considered dressing up as Mina Harker for Halloween but I just don’t have the time to pull off such an elaborate costume. Are you doing anything special for Halloween?

Yes I know that one, I own it :)
I actually quite like the movie, even though it's not following the graphic novel well at all. I still like the feel of it, Nemo's inventions and all the cool costumes. Sure, it's not the best movie out there, but I find it very enjoyable nonetheless :)
I LOVE Mina Harker's scientist outfits!

For Halloween I'm having a party at my house the weekend before Halloween (because my friends are available then) and then on Halloween itself I'll be in Disneyland Paris with my friend Charlotte. I'm going to dress up as a Halloween steampunk pirate, and Charlotte is going to dress up as something, but she keeps on changing her mind about what she wants to be. My costume is all but finished, I just need to put together a shirt and a pair of spats now, I'll definitely be finished in time :)

Lux: The movie was ok. I guess I'm too much of a comic book geek. I have to nit-pick everything! I love the inventions too. I think the movie was more about the scenery and costumes, which is cool for people like us who get inspired by those things. :) Another one I like to watch for inspiration is Bram Stoker's Dracula. Everything in it is so rich looking. Like a visual embodiment of red velvet cake or something. OK I'm weird. HAHA

Damn! You're doing Halloween right. And I thought I went all out. I am having a party too. My first in my new house. There's lots of planning to do so I better get to it. And I better let you go so you can finish your costume. You will post pictures right?

HH: Comic books aren't nearly as huge in Belgium as they are in the US, so I guess people here don't tend to get very annoyed by movie adaptations like they do elsewhere where there is a far larger comic book culture.

I really like that version of Dracula as well, the costumes really are exquisite in that movie.

And please don't worry about taking my time away from sewing, I am not even vaguely short on time :)

Plenty of time left to get everything finished well in time :)

I will definitely post pictures of my costume :)

I'm hoping to get a bunch made before Halloween, so I don't have to worry about getting good pictures while I'm in Disneyland Paris. It's smack in the fall holidays of Belgium and peak season there so I suspect there will be crowds in the way for pics. I'm definitely going to get my picture taking with Jack Skellington and Sally though, come hell or high water. I'm a Disney geek like that haha :)

Lux: Let's hear it for us geeks then! haha Can't wait to see the pics. And thank you so much for letting me interview you. It was great getting to know more about you. I really appreciate it and I'm sure the readers do too.

See even more amazing clothes check out Hilde's website House of Secrets.

Issue #1: Super Cute!

2008-09-30T12:15:00.000-07:00

Model: Mariska

Photographer: ?

Dear Readers,

I see there are at least two of you so far. Hopefully more will join us soon. Today I will begin posting Girl Is Poison: The Zine here. I will post at least one item per day until it's all out there for you to see. I have been working on this for about the last two and a half weeks. I would have started sooner but, well, life gets in the way! I did have a ton of fun putting this together. I got to try some new things and dust off my writing skills. There's small amount of content now, but I hope to grow this into something more. My goal is to get more people involved.

The theme of this issue is "Super Cute!" I have an interview with t-shirt designer SoHoKiTtEn, a music review, a tutorial, and more. I even try out a product so you know what you're getting before you buy.

My aim here is to have fun and produce an informative and entertaining zine. If you have any suggestions for things you'd like to see me cover fill out the poll to the right or comment. I'm also very open to submissions! I'd love submissions, so if you'd like to add the the zine please email me: thatgirl a t girlispoison d o t net.

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy it!

Lux

Where To Find The Cute

2008-09-24T16:39:00.000-07:00

Here are some links I've found to add some cute to your day!

Cute Shops:

Adorable handmade accessories

Cute acessories (and bags!) at great prices

Unique, handmade items you wont find anywhere else. T-shirts, totes and more...

Wigglysee!
Perfectly crafted toys for the little ones in your life.

Lauren Smash!
Hand sewn dolls with a touch of creepy cute.

Cute Pix:

Crazy Cute Animals

Super Duper Cute

The Cute Project

Cute Graphics:

MyCuteGraphics.com

123 Greetings

Cute Games:

Dress Up Games

Guinea Pig Lux: Mineral Makeup

2008-09-23T14:33:00.000-07:00

I finally took the plunge and decided to try out this mineral makeup I've been hearing so much about. And what a plunge it was. I threw out all my old makeup 'cause it was old and grody anyway. I spent $70.00 on eye shadows, blush, bronzer and foundation from Pink Quartz Minerals. But hey, it's good for your skin, good for the environment and no cute little animals were hurt to produce it. Good all around I'd say.

So my makeup arrives. I wash my face apply my moisturizer and get to work. Included with PQM makeup are these small brushes, which the directions say are the best to use and give the best results. I give up after a few minutes and take out my own tried and true brushes. Nope these little brushes just aren't doing it for me. It appears that my old brushes work just fine and produce better results. I start with "Secret" eye shadow and brush it over my entire lid up to the brow. The color is very subtle on me so I don't look like a drag queen or anything. The shadow goes on very smoothly. I use "Spruce" over the lid. The two colors look great together and they blend very well. Happy so far. Next I use my eyeliner brush to apply "Ecstasy" shadow as liner. I line the entire eye. I move on to foundation. My shade is "Oasis". (NOTE: PQM sends you samples of foundation before sending you the full size. This way you know the shade you're getting is right for you. It's all included in the price.) Here's where it gets tricky. This type of makeup has a tendency to look streaky if you're not careful. It requires a light touch and lots of thin layers. So the application of it is taking longer than the usual liquid does. However, the effect looks airbrushed. I'd say it's worth the extra effort. Next I use my blush brush to apply their "Dusty Peach" blush. (I'm a fan of peachy colors for blush. I believe the perfect shade of peach exists for every skin tone. No matter what your color there is a shade for you. :) ) This too requires a light touch. It's easy to load too much on your brush. I recommend applying it in thin layers as well. I finish with some lip gloss and mascara. Everything looks awesome! The overall effect is airbrushed and the colors are very subtle and pretty.

Pros
Good for your skin
No animal testing
Comes with it’s own built in spf
Looks and feels good on

Cons
Takes longer to apply
Requires more effort
Can look streaky if not applied carefully

Tips
If you have oily skin like me, skip the moisturizer and use a shine control product instead. After a short while I ended up having to blot and touch up. Definitely use an eye makeup base like Clarins Instant Light Eye Perfecting Base. The shadow will crease without it.

Surprises
Later on when I washed it off my skin looked really good! It’s almost like the makeup itself acted as a skin conditioning treatment.

Bottom Line
I would definitely recommend this product to everyone. If you have time to spend putting on your makeup then this is a great way to go. If you are in a hurry though you may want to use liquid foundation, at least until you get the hang of it.

Find some good mineral makeup here.

Photos coming soon.

Waaay Indie Band: Super Cute Voices

2008-09-22T19:51:00.000-07:00

Fun in a Box
By Lux

Super Cute Voices consists of Stuart on guitar, vocals & synthesizer and Charlie on drums & vocoder. While Stuart and Charlie appear to be a couple of normal looking guys from the U.K., their music is far from it. But what can you expect from a group that lists Nintendo as one of it’s influences? SCV are what I imagine to be the perfect band for the ADHD generation and they sound just like what you would expect such a band to sound. They deliver danceable songs with catchy hooks, video game beats and sing along choruses that are guaranteed to get you moving if only for a few minutes at a time. Their sound ranges from new wave to punk with a few Japanese lyrics thrown in for good measure. And all this often happens within the same song. In addition to Nintendo, they count Beck, Devo and Kraftwerk among their influences (3 of my personal favorites). While I do enjoy Super Cute Voices’ fun, updated 80’s style music, I couldn’t listen to a whole album. SCV is like a cute kid brother version of the above. They make good party music, however I wouldn’t recommend taking them on long car trips, they may just drive you nuts after a while.

Check out: My Favorite Maths Book & So Desu Ka

Skip: KaTING

Listen here.

Tutorial: Two-Tier Petticoat Mini

2008-09-21T18:23:00.000-07:00

Difficulty: 2 out of 5

Materials
1yd cotton weave or other non stretch fabric (more depending on your size and preferred length of skirt)
1 pc 1/2in wide elastic (length should be your exact waist measurement end to end)
Trim (optional)
Thread
Pins
Sewing needle
Sewing machine
Iron
Scissors
Tailors chalk
Straight edge
Measuring tape

1) Wash and dry fabric to preshrink, then iron.
2) Fold fabric in half lengthwise and then fold in half again lengthwise. You’ll end up with four layers. (photo)
3) Measure and mark 6 inches from raw edge of fabric with a straight edge. Cut directly on line. *This will make a S/M variable size skirt. For a larger skirt see alternative waistband construction below.* (photo)
4) With right sides facing each other, sew together short ends 5/8 of an inch from edge. (photo)
5) Fold fabric over with the right side facing out and press. Now you have the beginnings of your waistband. (photo)
6) Sew a straight stitch 5/8 of an inch from pressed edge. Leave about an inch long opening to put your elastic through. This will be your casing. Set aside. (photo)
7) Cut the remaining length of fabric in half width wise. You’ll end up with two long equal sized pieces. (photo)
8) With right sides facing each other, sew the two pieces together 5/8 of an inch from the edges. This will be the lower part of the skirt. (photo)
9) Set your machine to it’s longest stitch length and reduce the tension by half. Sew 2 rows of straight stitches about ¼ inch from one of the edges. These should be about ¼ inch apart. Tie the ends into two knots. (photo)
10) Pull on one of the knots until the lower part of the skirt is gathered to fit the waistband. Even out your gathers. (photo)
11) Restore original stitch length and tension settings on your machine. With right sides facing each other, pin lower skirt to waistband matching seams with sides. (photo) Straight stitch 1 inch from the edge leaving a 1 inch opening parallel to the 1 inch opening in the casing. (photo)
12) Attach a safety pin to each edge of elastic and thread elastic through the openings and all the way through the casing. (photo)
13) Pull elastic ends through, overlap them 1 inch and hand stitch them together. (photo)
14) Tuck elastic back into the casing and finish the casing seam. (photo)
15) Finish the seam attaching the lower skirt to the waistband. (photo)
16) Hem the skirt by folding over the raw edge twice at least ¼ inch, pressing it and straight stitching. (photo)
17) For an extra girly touch add trim. Still not cute enough? Add bows too!

*Alternative waistband construction: Begin by cutting two pieces of fabric 6 in from the edge instead of one. Cut each of those pieces to measure ½ of your total hip measurement plus one inch. Example: if your hip measurement is 46 in each piece should measure 24 in. Sew the two pieces together with right sides facing each other ½ in from each short edge. Fold over so right sides face out and press. Move on to step 6.

If you'd like to see the photos all at once please visit my Flickr page.

If anything isn't clear or you need a more detailed description don't hesitate to ask! This is only my first tutorial so I want to make it as easy to follow as possible.

Not the sewing type? Petticoat is for sale here.

Super Cute 3 Different Ways

2008-09-20T09:13:00.000-07:00

Super Cute doesn't have to mean drowning yourself in ruffles and lace! It can be done in different ways, over the top or subtle and sophisticated. Here I have put together three different takes on girlish fashion.

FRUiTsy Cute

The bright shades of pink and blue make this really stand out and the different textures make it interesting. What is Japanese fashion if not interesting? By sticking with the same color combination when choosing the accessories you can turn a wild outfit like this into something a little more wearable. Well as wearable as a TuTu is if you're not a ballerina.

Like the clothes? Buy them here.

Vintage Cute

How I love vintage clothes...from pretty much any era, but I've always had a soft spot for the 50s-60s. The cuts of the dresses were so pretty and they looked good on any body type. Here I paired a royal blue/cream swiss dot dress with candy apple red shoes. Whoever said you're not supposed to put primary colors together was so wrong.

Dress for sale here.

"Sophisti-cute"

This top has very girlish details: a bib front, puffed sleeves and non functional buttons. What saves it from being juvenile are the neutral colors and the edgy texture. Pair it with a hot pink mini for a touch of color interest and opaque black tights. Add a purse with punky details (grommets, studs, etc) and you're good to go.

Skirt available here.
Vintage purse available here.

Indie Designer Crush: Twinkie Chan!

2008-09-19T17:47:00.000-07:00

That Girl Who Makes Food Scarves

I first knew of Stephanie a.k.a. Twinkie Chan on Live Journal way back when she blogged under the handle potatoxstamp. We had a mutual friend on LJ who I’ve long since lost touch with. (What was your name…?) I knew as soon as I saw her face in her icon that I wanted her to model my clothes some day. I was recently finally able to make that happen. (Hot!) So who is Twinkie Chan? If you don’t know then you must have snagged yourself some prime real estate under a rock somewhere. (Kidding!) Twinkie Chan is a San Francisco based, dog loving, crochet pattern drafting, scarf making, indie model and up and coming web-celeb. If you don’t know her yet, you will soon.

Twinkie Chan’s super cute food themed scarves go for upwards of $200.00. No lie. And they have inspired a ton of knock-off artists out there on the net and in bricks and mortar boutiques. This very talented designer has been featured in publications such as Giant Robot, Nickelodeon Magazine and Inked Magazine. Her work was recently shown in Chicago’s Sugar Craft art show, proving her to be a true artist as well as a businesswoman. Even though she has accomplished so much in such a short time, she still remains down to earth. She spends her days working as a literary agent, caring for her dogs Bibi and Bunny, and working on various projects such as her new site: ieatyuckystuff.com. Even her alt-model fame hasn’t diminished her totally sweet personality. Oh yeah and did I mention she runs a successful website too? Just spend a few minutes on her fun, wacky site Twinkiechan.com and it’s easy to see why she has attained such a following and become this month’s Indie Designer Crush. If you’re still not head over heels just check out the pictures below!

Feed your wardrobe.

Easiest Cookies Ever

2008-09-18T16:44:00.000-07:00

Sugar Cookies

This is a recipe I learned in culinary school with a few small modifications. Sugar cookies are probably one of the easiest things to make and because you can roll the dough out and form it into any shape they lend themselves to any occasion. Enjoy!

Ingredients:
1c butter (2 sticks), softened
1c sugar
2 1/2c all purpose flour
2t vanilla extract

Baking:
1)Combine butter and sugar until smoothe.
2)Add flour and vanilla and knead on a floured surface until the texture is uniform.
3)Chill in the fridge for at least an hour.
4)Preheat oven 350 degrees.
5)Knead the dough some more to soften and roll it out to 1/2 inch thick on a floured surface.
6)Use cookie cutters or free hand your shapes.
7)Place your cookies on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper and bake for 20-25 minutes.
8)Cool for at least 15 minutes.

Makes approximately a dozen 3 inch cookies.

Decorating:
You can use a lot of different things to decorate. I added food coloring during step 2 and drizzled melted chocolate on top after step 8. You can use icing, sprinkles, colored sugar (add this right before step 7) and more.

Variations:
To change to flavor of your cookies you can substitute the vanilla for another extract such as lemon or almond extract.

If anything is unclear please feel free to ask questions!

Did you try this recipe? Post your pix or variations!

Screenprinter of the Month: SoHoKiTtEn!

2008-09-17T15:43:00.000-07:00

One Cool Kitten
By Lux

Lux: Can you believe we've known each other since 2002? That's 6 years. I've barely known irl friends that long. haha Does it feel like you've been doing the diy/business thing that long? I feel like it was just yesterday I got into all this stuff...

SK: 2002?! OMG....haha. Yeah...that seems like forever ago. I'm really glad we've stayed in touch for so long. ^_^ You know, I actually do feel like I've been DIYing for that long. I mean, I still enjoy it and all but I feel like I was born creating stuff. CHEESE. :P

Lux: So do I. I remember always making things as a kid, but unlike most kids I was always trying to sell the things I made! I knew I’d have my own business even then…lol I‘m glad we‘ve stayed in touch too. J You’re one of the few people who have managed to stay cool over the years. I won’t name names but some of my “friends” have gotten way too full of themselves. Have you had that experience?

SK: haha! Lux the Little Entrepreneur! ^_^ Too cute. I know a few people, friends even, who have just let their egos explode. I mean, you have to have a thick skin and confidence (especially when you have your own business) because not everyone is going to like you and you need to get over that, but there's that line that I will just never cross. I am not Paris Hilton. I like myself but if you don't I'm not going to try even harder to make you like me. I think that's when people become fake. Know what I'm sayin'? haha

Lux: Exactly! Some of these chicks swear they’re celebrities. Of course some of them actually are but only on the internet ladies! I can’t be fake. I think I tried it once. Didn’t work for me. That must be why I don’t have 8000 friends on Myspace. (boo hoo) But enough of the silly sheisser, let’s get down to brass tacks: what is a typical day like for you?

SK: A typical day? OMG....haha Well, I begin by waking up to my obnoxious cell phone alarm. Its set to a dazzling tune that my husband likes to make up words for. I drink coffee, talk to my husband for a little bit, wake up my son, take my dog out to pee and get dressed. After I see my husband off and my son is all ready for school, I drop him off and walk to work. I'm a grooming assistant by day and depending on the schedule I can assist with up to 15 dogs.....in 5-6 hours. O_O I leave work with aches and pains - I refer to those aches and pains as "dog arm" or "dog elbow". Sometimes, especially if there’s a Newfoundland in that day, I leave with "dog body". Its like the flu.....with hair. T_T When I get home, I shower, check my email and eat a snack. I then walk to school to get my son and return home, help him do his homework and chillax until 6 - 7PM when my husband gets home. I then eat dinner and we all go for a walk with my bastard dog. He has sharp teeth. We usually all end up in bed by about 8:30 - 9. We are boring. Busy and boring. I try to sneak in crafting time everyday but its pretty tough with "dog body". I doodle while I wait for internet pages to load though! Does that count?? (OH, BTW, do you have a facebook??? I have to find you on there if you do *stalk*)

Lux: Dog elbow! You love it! You could be describing my day only without the dog or the “real“ job lol. We’re pretty boring/normal here too. I kind of like it that way though you know? I couldn’t go out and party every night like some people do. I’d rather be home reading or knitting or something lame like that. What about you? If you had the chance to go out and tear up the whole party/fashion scene ala coked up models, horny photographers and guys in all black smoking cloves who no one really knows what the hell they do would you? Tell the truth now!
(Oh by the way I don’t have a face book. At one point I had signed up for all the networking sites but just couldn’t keep track of them all. It’s just more trouble than it’s worth to me. I stick to a few LJ, blogspot, squidoo…)

SK: It really depends on my mood! I'm pretty spontaneous and if I have the chance to go out and let loose with my friends I definitely will....if I don't have "dog body", that is. But 9 times out of 10 you'll catch me at home, in bed with my husband watching reruns of "The Family Guy" on DVD, eating Qdoba or Baja Fresh. We love our burrito and we love to be anti-social while eating said burritos!

Lux: You know I’m not a big burrito fan. I think I may be the only Mexican in the world who hates beans. Ha! If I get the chance to go out I do too, it just doesn’t happen that often. Finding babysitters and getting a group together is a rare occurrence these days. You know how it is for us old folks. But when I do go out I do it up right. You’ll always find me in some crazy outfit I made! Do you often wear your own designs?

SK: I like wearing my designs during the week, just hanging out. I get a lot of compliments, mainly from parents at my son's school and of course, kids! They usually notice my bright pink hair first though! You have no idea how many times I've heard the exclamation, "MOMMY! That girl has pink hair!" haha Gotta love kids for pointing out the obvious. My favorite thing to wear that I have made has to be my Yummy Bunny tank top or my Captain Scallywags the Pirate Bunny necklace. I should be renamed SoHoBuNnY. Lol

Lux: I like wearing your designs too. But I usually get weird looks from the other moms at my daughter’s school. I live in an area where 80% of the moms have fake boobs and drive Acuras. Oh well f*ck ‘em! SoHoBuNnY’s cute! It could be like your couture line. :P So what are you working on right now? Any new plans for the business?

SK: haha! fake boobs and Acuras....HOT. I am currently working on a project for DiYScene. Two other members and I are collaborating and I don't want to give too many details but there will be a photo shoot involved. CRYPTIC. :P I am doing a new twist on an established character....or I'm giving that character a similar friend.....hmmmm....which one is it? lol My business plans aren't very well thought out. I'm hoping (fingers crossed) to print a few more tops next week but we'll see how that goes. I'm always up for a custom order! ^_~

Lux: That sounds like fun. You Diy Scene girls always have something going on. Since your business plans are not that well thought out would it be futile to ask where you see SoHoKiTtEn in 5 years?

SK: I envision SoHoKiTtEn to still be going strong 5 years from now. If not on Etsy, in some other form. I will never stop drawing or painting or having silly, creative ideas. And as those ideas have evolved from 5 years ago, they will continue to in 5 years from now. SoHoKiTtEn is go! Haha

Lux: Yay! I’m glad to hear it, but let’s rewind a bit and how did you get into it? How did you decide to do screen printing? I remember way back in the day you were doing all kinds of stuff like hand painting shoes…

SK: Hmmm....I remember my husband (who was my boyfriend at the time lol) used to always look on Ebay for unique DIY clothing. This is probably back in 2001 or 2002. I then had the idea to start my own seller account and after selling a few clothing items and establishing good feedback I started modifying all the clothes I sold. I LIVED at the thrift stores and fabric stores. haha My room was all sewing machine and fabric. After I moved, I didn't really have the time or space to sew as much but that’s when I really started doing hand-painted designs of t-shirts, mini tote bags and those shoes! My husband has worked in the screen-printing business for years so I started having him print me a couple things on the side every once in a while. And thus, SoHoKiTtEn's Etsy shop was born. I am focusing mainly on painting, screen prints and hand-drawn plastic necklace charms.....do you still have those shoes?! LOL I had a pink sparkly leopard print pair forever and just recently had to let them go cause they were all gross from me wearing them non-stop. haha Those were a pretty popular seller. ^_^

Lux: I LOVED those shoes. I wore them all the time so sadly, no I don’t still have them. They started getting grody. That’s good luck that you already had a screen-printing connection. I’ve thought about doing that too. The closest I came was designing a couple shirts on Café Press. It never really went anywhere. But anyway I have one last question for you: Are you going to vote? If so who for and why? I ask everyone this, but if it’s too personal you don’t have to answer I understand!

SK: Voting is a weird subject for me. I know that right now I am scared to death of Palin. She's pretty good at hiding behind that hockey mom persona....and at having babies....and praying. Yeah....I think I'll stop myself before I go too far. :P xoxo SoHoKiTtEn >^..^<>

Lux: Understood. :)

Get your own cute here.

Debate: How Old Is Too Old?

2008-09-16T13:45:00.000-07:00

Here is the first debate for Girl Is Poison: The Zine. How old is too old for lolita-ish clothing?

Never Too Old!
By Lux
I know one day I’ll hang up my maryjanes. Let’s face it as we get older pretty shoes give way to orthopedic comfort. Buttons and bows are replaced with Velcro and sweatshirts proclaiming one the “World’s Greatest Grandma”. At the age of 26 this seems a long way off now, but the thought of retiring my Alice headbands, petticoats, vintage dolly dresses and, yes, maryjanes for good leaves me with a certain amount of wistfulness. I didn’t exactly give them up in adulthood did I?

I was told once that I am a young soul. I not only believe this, I live it day to day. And thank goodness I have the opportunity to express it how and when I choose. (God bless America!) I’ll admit my skirts are less full these days, I haven’t worn peter pan collars in ages and I’ve taken to picking out more solid colors rather than the wacky colorful prints I was once known for. But every now and again I feel like having a little fun. What is life without fun? I believe we are only here for a short time. If donning a ruffled party dress makes a 65 year old woman (or man for that matter) feel good then let ‘em! They’ve sure as hell earned it. The truth is anyone who has the cojones to go against the norm and endure the inevitable stares, comments and sometimes laughter has earned it twice over.

You’re never to old to live each day to the fullest. You’re never too old to have spirit and appreciate life…right down to your maryjanes. As silly as it may seem to some, clothing is a huge part of life to people like me. Clothes will always equal art no matter how old we get. Just ask all the people who crowd New York venues during Fashion Week. Or ask the seamstress who spends weeks constructing a single couture garment. To fashion junkies like us, clothes are part of who we are. A coat does not just keep us warm, it says something about us. Those of us who will leave the house in babydoll dresses and knee socks are saying that we are truly young at heart and don’t care who knows it.

You might ask: “But Lux, who really wants to see a 65 year old woman in a jumper?”. My answer to you is the 65 year old. And I counter with: “Would you rather see her in a micro mini and fishnets?”. The fact is Lolita fashion represents more than just youth, it represents a time when people had a little more modesty. Clothing was more conservative and people dressed with just a bit more care. Appearance was more about the fine details. The beading, the lace! It’s high time the pendulum swings back! If you see that 65 year old on the street just know that she understands this and a lot more. Before judging her as an old lady with a couple screws loose, take note that you are witnessing someone who is truly free. Do I read too much into it? Perhaps, but I personally prefer cute, sweet and fun to messy, slutty or boring any day. It’s for damn sure 100% better than that “World’s Greatest Grandma” sweatshirt.

Is there an age limit to wearing Lolita?
By Emily Buresh
The Lolita style is a very beautiful fashion that originates from Japanese subculture to look like Victorian dolls. This trend has several subcategories: Gothic Lolita, Punk Lolita, Classic Lolita, Sweet Lolita, Wa/Qi Lolita, Ouji/kodona/dandy Lolita, Manga/Anime Lolita, and other more do-it-yourself Lolita styles. The Japanese tend to wear more conservative ensembles while Americans have taken their spin on things to show off some skin. The style first emerged in the 1970’s, but has gained popularity in the 1990’s and is now a widely known fashion that is sold in many stores worldwide.

The general effect of the Lolita style is to appear youthful and almost fragile, yet alluring. The colors and fabrics vary widely from traditional Japanese kimono silks to plaids and lace. Some feel that this look is ageless and can be worn by anyone, but the truth is that this isn’t so. As we mature, our over all look changes dramatically. Many use products or surgery to get back this appearance. Others hold onto the age of innocence with garments. I’m not implying one should stop wearing this style at say 40 or 50. However, if your look requires diabetic stockings and orthopedic shoes, then it’s time to retire the look.

Over time our skin wrinkles because it loses elasticity, our hair grays, and our overall figure loses to gravity. Some start earlier in life than others, but to see a woman with a cute school girl’s uniform, platform shoes, a parasol, and have a face that time has not forgotten isn’t attractive and defeats the purpose of the whole ensemble. One might also run the risk of having total strangers ask why you are wearing your granddaughter’s dress.

Lolita takes a lot of time to prepare just the right look. One needs to apply their make-up giving it a light appearance, yet draw out the lips, cheeks, and eyes just so depending on what direction of Lolita is chosen. Next is to coif the hair to give a youthful appearance. Some do their hair in ringlets while others pin up their hair with elaborate clips. A corset or bustier can give the waist a young girl’s curvature. Adding stockings or socks elongate the legs. The shirt can be simple or one can add a few layers with a vest or jacket. Bustles accentuate a small tush, then petticoats and generally a knee length skirt. Of course like any other fashion style the look can be simplified or be more elaborated.

I have talked to several maturing women and they have said that they enjoy as few steps as possible when getting ready in the morning. To them the thought of anything more than brushing their hair and putting on pants is way too much. All that bother isn’t really worth it and they find their time is better spent doing other things that are needed to get done or sleep in.
By no means am I saying not to go for it and buy that cute anime style dress, but realize societal norms and how you will be stared at. As time passes there will be less and less of your peers who wear similar fashions. This is a major part of the look to have others who look similar and be able to mix and match with your friends. If all this doesn’t bother you, go for it!

I look forward to growing old gracefully and enjoy wearing such lovely Lolita garments. However, I know that there will be a time in my life when I need put away or give away certain clothes. I say everyone should rock each year to the fullest, wear that purple shirt, be comfortable in your own skin, but please know when to hang up your kitty hoodie.
Best wishes and blessings to you in this journey called life.

What are your thoughts? Should there be an age limit? At what point (if any) should people stop expressing themselves in this way?

Welcome to Girl Is Poison: The Zine!

2008-07-30T16:39:00.000-07:00

So I'm new here. I heard about this site from a friend on LiveJournal. While I love LJ and still plan on posting there, it is rather dead these days and I want something with a little more exposure. So I'm creating this blog not just for myself but for all the talented people I've been coming across. This is going to be a fashion/craft blog, an online zine. I plan to publish it monthly and it will contain designer profiles, diy resources and tutorials (both submitted and found), editorials and hopefully a lot more.

I had attempted last year to create a zine much like this one but in print, however most of the people that signed on to be on staff flaked on me. So this one will probably be all me with occasional submissions. And because it's online anyone can access it. Now I know that blogs like these are a dime a dozen, so I'm going to work extra hard to make this one different and keep it going. I'm hoping that someday it will be a big presence in the indie fashion community. Wish me luck and stay tuned for the first issue!

~Lux

P.S. To learn more about me and my clothing label Girl Is Poison click here.