black friday at LACMA

Chain mail and goldfish come together for a limited time only at the Urban Light Sculpture at the Los Angeles Museum of Art! This sweater feels like soft metal all knitted together. It is by Nancy Pollack from the 70's - thank you to my mother-in-law for cleaning out her closet. The goldfish locket, I saved from my mom's jewelry box. I have memories of going into her jewelry box, opening this fish and smelling the amber perfume inside. I love things that surprise you when they open. I feel like I am going to dance in a 70's disco in NY after I have gone horseback riding, of course. Oh, and the boots are from a thrift store in Milwaukee.

prada hat, NY

Holly is in New York trying on hats at the Prada store while I am... sighing as I receive her brilliant images in Los Angeles. Hey, it's sunny here! So what is the story with this hat? Since I didn't get a story, I am going to say that Holly has chickens at home and her son has had more than one bird-related Halloween costume. It also reminds me of a yellow feathered Chinese hat I used to wear down the street as a kid. My dad would say, "Where are you going? Hollywood?" whenever I wore it.

the paint has a mind of its own

I've been going around with watery paintings/dresses in my head. I see them floating on paper, floating down Abbot Kinney in the bright sunlight. This explains why I am not a great listener. How can I expect students to listen, let alone remember my instructions on how to make paper, when I am dreaming about watery dresses all the time.

Anyway, I owe so much to an artist named Ev, for showing me you've got to add water to the Chinese ink. Duh! It was like someone telling me, "You know, you have to drink water if you want to be able to do anything that flows, that's graceful. You know that, right?" I like watercolor because it's not just about me controlling the medium. The paint is like an unpredictable collaborator. Give my collaborator some water and she really lets loose like firecrackers.

Can you imagine if this dress were real? It is reminiscent of a saloon girl from the gold rush days, yet modern because it is shorter in the back made of hand-painted silk. Crazy color feathering out in unpredictable ways... oh, to wear a beautifully formed painting! Heaven.

Watercolors by me, photo from Victorian Closet

inventing clothes stories

"Is that the latest Louis Vuitton?" she asked

"No, it is not", I could have said.

Instead, I said, "Yeah" looking so happy with myself as I purchased lipstick in Hollywood.

I don't know what came over me. This article of clothing has it's own power over me. Maybe that is why I hardly ever wear it. "What, did it cost 10,000 dollars or something?" she asked. "Yeah!" my eyes widened, with a "I know, can you believe it?" attitude. The truth is I purchased it in San Francisco's China Town in January, 2008. My friend I was with got an almost identical one. It was sooo fun. The label says, "Lazun". The leggings are "Moda International" and the shoes are "Asgi".

"You just have to be French", I told her

The lady on the right had purple hair, I just have to tell you. That's why I took her photo on the streets of Paris two summers ago on my fortieth birthday. Paris is a good place to go for an American woman's fortieth birthday because obviously, French women are not obsessed with looking like teenagers. They feel hot and attractive at any age. They are experts!

So the other night, when an extraordinarily stunning mother of adult children felt obligated to comment on her "old lady arms", I said casually, "Oh, you just have to be French." "What?" she asked.

I have been thinking about the French thing for a long time since my last Paris trip so to me it was so obvious. I love assuming everyone knows the history of my thoughts. It's a bit confusing for people, though.

And by the way, those lovely and sassy French ladies all have a little belly. They have these gorgeous outfits, exquisite jewelry, enviable shoes, and a little belly from enjoying life (i.e. the best cheese, butter, and baguettes). And, they all look like they are in love with their partner who is their age. Lovely.