Moving out of Shabbyville and heading Downtown

I used to have one of the most beautiful wardrobes in town but, that was back in the day when i was studying to be a tailor and spent all of my time sewing. Yes, i'm actually a tailor by trade. Absolutely loved pattern making and became a pretty damn good seamstress to boot. Just couldn't stand my clients to be honest. The last thing i made professionally was a wedding dress. She was lucky to make it to the alter...i thought i was going to have to shoot her.

Anyway, The last 5 years, since working from home, my wardrobe has become quite shabby to put it mildly. The only nice clothes i have are the ones i perform in but my daily garb is pretty sad. So, I've decided to spiffy myself up. Kind of difficult though since I'm pretty much starting from scratch. I figured the best thing to do would be to get some really good basics. My choices are inspired by the 1940's, Film Noir, Men's Wear & Harpo Marx. I'm still working on it, but here are some of the pieces i have acquired.
Playsuit: Rumble59
Swing Trousers: HeyDey Vintage
Vest: 2nd Hand Market in Rotterdam
Wingtip Shoes: Zinda
Classic White T-Shirts: HEMA
Grey Knitted Shawl: City Market in Rotterdam
Men's black hat: 2nd hand market
Stockings (without holes in them!): HEMA

Oh, and i received this fantastic pattern in the mail this week which i purchased from MoonStar's Etsy Store. 4 great pieces in one pattern. Fabulous! Don't know when in the hell i'll find time to make them but i can't wait to give it a shot.

You know, I haven't really thought about fashion in quite a while. I've just been so busy creating other things. But i'm really enjoying the thought of being stylish once again. The Tom-Boy in me loves running around in my beat-up overalls but the Southern Belle just adores being a lady. So, Here's to needles and threads!

Pulp Accordions

'Accordion Crimes' is an incredibly entertaining book by E. Annie Proulx. It follows the life of an accordion over a 100 year period telling the unfortunate tales of the personages that come to own the instrument. The journey begins in Italy where the accordion is made and follows it to the new world beginning in New Orleans. The story involves an amazing myriad of cultures, landscapes and is a really fascinating look into the experience of the many immigrants to the United States. I recommend it highly!

And, look at these amazing Paper Toy Accordions! Download & fold these paper accordions via paperfoldables.com and Canon.


Split-pen, accordion-playing paper doll, perfect for a stop motion animation. And, while you are making your nifty accordion paper crafts, how about listening to the Accordion Crimes Radio Show. Have fun, y'all.

Celebrate Animal Day on the 4th of October By Treating Your Dog to a Beer. A BEER?!

We received this little advertisement paper from our local pet store in the mail yesterday. Let me first translate what the Dutch suggest are fitting presents for your four footers on World Animal Day and then please click on the images to ZOOM and be dazzled:

'Kwispel Honden Bier' or 'Wagging Tail Doggy Beer', alchohol free of course. And what's a beer without a pizza!? I swear that i didn't photoshop this or make it up. And to really get the party going, (I LOVE this part) what about some 'Back-to-the-80's Rubber Chickens dressed up like the Village People'. Man, dogs have all the fun, don't they?. They also sell something called the 'Furminator'. DANG, the dog get's a beer and a pizza and your cat gets the Furminator?! That doesn't quite seem fair, now does it?

Now, i was so puzzled by all of this that i read the next item as a 'Crab Ramp'. I envisioned hermit crabs with numbers painted on their shells having their own little crash-'m-up derby or something. Actually the dutch word 'krab' does mean 'Crab' but in this instance it takes on it's other meaning which is 'scratch'. This is actually a scratching ramp for cats. But who knows, if you have a pet Hermit Crab, they might dig it too. I mean, if a dog can have a beer and a pizza then a hermit crab is entitled to his own stunt equipment, right?

So follow the Dutch's advice... Buy your dog some beer on October the 4th and get wasted with your pet while munching pizza on the couch and torturing the cat with the Furminator... Yeehaw!

Guerilla Gardening & Vegaphonics @ Lowlands

Marko & i joined Premsela @ Lowlands for some Guerilla Gardening. Premsela gave away sunflowers in pots which they encouraged the festival goers to plant in amazing places around the festival grounds. The stand itself was a two story vertical garden full of edible plants. Inside you could make seed bombs, do some cooking or make your own natural sun tan lotion.

Marko & i conducted a vegaphonic workshop during which we made flutes from carrots. Each flute could be measured on our 'Peen-O-Meter'(Carrot Tuner) and then cut to the desired note. In the afternoon we assembled a group together and made a Human Carrot Pan Flute. What a hoot! And you know, it's amazing how damn happy you can make someone with a carrot. Oh, and we even got a mention on 3VOOR12!

Rowing on Lake Rotte

This was the most horrible summer i can remember. It RAINED like hell and then it RAINED some more. This was one of the few days we were able to get out into the sun. Marko rowed me around the beautiful lake while i played the ukulele for him.

Home Made Market in Den Hague