Hiss and Hearse

Today the skies are grey, the snow is still falling, and I find myself daydreaming about Forbidden Island tiki drinks, driving down Highway 1, and visiting my friends in snow-free San Francisco. Some positive things that have happened during this last frigid week: I was able to span lots of time with my honey, and my new, sophisticated KCP business cards, designed by Nubbytwiglet, arrived.

I have been collaborating with another talented person, Erin Corbett, who is a photo re-toucher living right down the street from us. We have been using our combined forces to revamp the website of a local skincare parlor called Bloom. I am also working on her business identity, and she is using her skills to help me with my photography portfolio!

Other wonderful things include: receiving real letters from my photographer pen-pal, Chloe Aftel, who constantly inspires and pushes me to be a better artist; wearing my new Betsey Johnson coat, which I bought for a steal and whose heart buttons make me feel happy; watching the documentary about American figure skater Johnny Weir, “Pop Star on Ice,” which I found to be completely inspiring; and discovering a love of yoga, which I have been doing once a week with Erin Corbett.

This morning I heard birds chirping, and these winter days are starting to make their exit. At the end of the month, I am taking a much needed trip home to California to see family and friends, and I am very excited about that! Tell me things that are making you feel wonderful.

“Of course she drank the poision.”, artwork by one of my favorites, Caitlin Shearer.

This morning I opened my eyes and Pittsburgh was covered in snow! The sidewalks, the cars, the tree branches – it all looked like a scene from Groundhog Day!

I think the snow is gorgeous to look at, but of course I am saying this from my cozy apartment, while poor Richard Wayne is outside scraping snow off his car.

How are you? I am enjoying learning about my new environment but really missing California and my family. How are you going to spend the holidays? One of the things from the internet that I have been enjoying lately is Regina, the jewelry designer behind Chain Chain Chained’s blog.

Finally able to take pictures again, this week I was really curious how to make my own bokeh and found this really easy to follow tutorial.

What I love the most about this time of year are the decorations and giving gifts to my nearest and dearest. I wish that I could reveal what I purchased for Richard Wayne, but let’s just say that this year, Etsy was a great gift resource!

I also collaborated with Lindsay Jean, ModCloth fashion buyer and budding stylist, along with friend and model Bobbi Wall to create some gorgeous images. Can you believe that this was Bobbi’s first time in front of a camera?

I am anxious to focus on my photography again. There are some collaborations in the works, including an exciting identity redesign with graphic designer, fellow black and white lover, and snow white beauty, nubbytwiglet! Updates coming soon! Other than that, I am trying to stay positive and enjoy where I am.

This weekend Richard and I move into our new, cute apartment in Lawrenceville, and I can’t wait to have a real routine again. Living out of a suitcase for almost a month is not the easiest thing. Also, with what happened this week, I want a brand new space. I am trying really hard to move on, but I just feel really bad about losing all of my work, fonts, design elements, mp3s, and all other things that I have been electronically collecting the last five-plus years.

Some things that I’ve been looking at around here and want (besides my camera and computer), is this fucshia coat from FredFlare and these velvet boots from ModCloth. All the typography lovers who read this blog will also enjoy “Daily Drop Cap”, which is a blog by Brooklyn typographer and illustrator Jessica Hische, who designs a daily gorgeous drop cap!

Now that I have a real address again, I am going to subscribe to some new fashion magazines, and Lula is the first one on my list! I also am constantly on the search for cute dresses to wear to work and after, since people here really like their happy hours. One I have my eye on at the moment is the “Mod-est Dress” by Katherine McConnell.

For three days only, F21 is having a FREE shipping promo! Use code F21FRIENDS to pay nothing to have your parcels posted to you. Since the weather in Pittsburgh is quickly changing, I have been on the search for long sleeve blazers and found two here! This velvet one and this tuxedo inspired blazer are my style and seem both work- and play-appropriate.

Tell me happy things! What have you been doing this week? What are you dreaming about? Wearing? Creating? I really can’t wait to start over again.

What’s inspiring me lately? First off is this gorgeous new photograph taken by one of my favorite photographers, Ren Rox.

And then, this is view from my new desk. It’s hard to not stare out the window at the river and the changing, autumn leaves! I am also typing to you from a brand new MacBook Pro, which is dreamy with its black keys. Today I can’t stop listening to a mix called “Danse Macabre” from a blog called, Trash Menagerie. Los Angeles based photographers and partners, JUCO (Cody Cloud and Julia Galdo), continue to leave me breathless. Check out their latest set, shot in their home.

Things that I want right now but don’t necessarily need: boots, lots of them, including these suede pretties. Pittsburgh is definitely a boot city. Last week it was freezing, and today it’s 70 degrees. In a month, it will snow! I dream of many coats, and so I’ve been on the search for one that both looks good and is warm. I always want more tights, of all colors, textures, and patterns! This last weekend I attended my first Steelers game and was introduced to the joy of the over the knee sock.

Everything is falling into place. Richard and I sign the lease for our new apartment tonight!

“People, art, movies, music and moods. I’m inspired by things that define a specific era, then I take those things and mix them together. And I’ve always had a soft spot for anything punk rock. It just doesn’t go away – black, silver jewelry, metal studs, you name it! So there is always a bit of that somewhere in my creations.”
-Vanessa Moore

I discovered Vanessa Moore’s Etsy collection by searching “black and white stripes”. Her shop is my dream come true, full of red, black, and white creations, fringe, stripes, bats, feathers and cute tops made out of comfortable looking fabrics. We started a conversation, and I am happy that she agreed to not only make me TWO of her gorgeous puff sleeve tops (one black and one black and white stripes of course) but to be interviewed as well!

Name: Vanessa Moore
Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada soon to be London, UK!!!
Occupation: Designer + Artist

Why fashion?
Because I love art, and clothing is wearable art. You can dress to suit your mood or to define it.

How did the love affair begin?
When I was three years old I made a princess costume (hat included) out of construction paper. My father even has this event on tape!

I then discovered my mother’s closet. She would dress me up and take pictures. There was also my grandmother, who showed me what a sewing machine was and what could be done with it. A few years later, when I was in high school, I learned how to use a sewing machine in my home ec. classes, and THAT’s where the love really began!

Photo by Marie-Claude Hamel

Did you go to school?
I am a fashion design school dropout!  I studied for one semester and decided that I wasn’t learning fast enough. After that I studied fine arts for three years then went back to fashion by studying sewing, pattern making, and technical drawing at an independent school in my hometown.

Is your jewelry design a different thing?
I started making jewelry when I was about thirteen or fourteen, when my dad brought me to an outdoor market during a business trip to Arizona.There I found everything necessary to get started. From there I played around with different types of jewelry making. I then left that aside for a while and then started again when I started making clothes.

Do you love designing one more than the other?
I think I love them both equally, as long as I’m making something – anything – I’m happy! I also make sculptures and paintings, and I love taking pictures!

How long have you been selling on Etsy?
I’ve been selling on Etsy on the side for about two and a half years, but starting in September I will be selling on Etsy full-time.

Do you find it to be a useful website for designers?
Extremely useful! But you do have to work at it. I’ve been learning so much about sales and marketing since I’m on Etsy, it’s great!

Is that you modeling in all the photos? (You are gorgeous!)
Yes that’s me! Thanks, I’m blushing! It’s a bit tricky taking pictures of yourself. I think my next purchase is a remote control for my camera!

What kinds of things influence you?
People, art, movies, music, and moods. I’m inspired by things that define a specific era, then I take those things and mix them together. And I’ve always had a soft spot for anything punk rock. It just doesn’t go away – black, silver jewelry, metal studs, you name it! So there is always a bit of that somewhere in my creations.

Photo by Stéphanie Lefebvre

Do you have a favorite artist or designer?
I admire many, many artists and designers, but one of my top favorite designers would be Alexander McQueen.

If you made me a mix, what are three songs you would put on it?
These days, “Shoes” by TIGA , “Colourless Colour” by LaRoux, and “Red Eyes and Tears” by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.

Have you been able to make your line a full-time job?
Yes, my line has been a full time job since 2004 with a little help, and then completely on my own since the middle of 2007! Yay!

Any tips for others who want to make art their job?
Start small, have discipline, which is not easy. Barter when possible, talk about what you do, post pictures of what you do, take breaks, make mistakes, and when you have something that works make more and crank the stuff out!

Any favorite websites?
For inspiration I love to browse blogs like BleachBlack, Coilhouse, Kingdom of Style, Outsapop Trashion, , just to name but a few!  Online shops like Pixie Market, Oak, Opening Ceremony, Seven New York, and so on.

Future plans for Vanessa Moore?
My boyfriend was offered a job in London, England. So you can imagine how excited I am to be going there with him!! There I will be able to focus on what I’ve been wanting to do for a while now, and that is focus completely on my internet sales. I want to be able to work from anywhere in the world! I also have been planning a higher end collection of eccentric but still very wearable pieces that will be available in the fall. So stay tuned!

Vanessa has agreed to giveaway one of her fabulous laser cut necklaces (the winner will be able to choose either The Teenie Tiny Mustache Necklace or The Baby Bat Necklace!) Please submit a comment here by Sunday 8/9 at Midnight and we will choose a winner at random. The winner will be notified by email!

Links:
Vanessa Moore’s Etsy
Vanessa Moore Blog
Vanessa Moore Flickr
Vanessa Moore Twitter

I have been working with L.A. based Good Friday designs on their logo and business card designs. In exchange for my work, I chose the Sheena Necklace, which I think is the perfect combination of punk rock and glam.

You too, dear reader can win one in the very first Hiss and Hearse Giveaway Contest! Just leave a comment on why you love the Sheena Necklace and we’ll choose and answer we like best.  We will give you the entire holiday weekend to think about it, so please submit a comment by Sunday 7/5 at Midnight. The winner will be notified by email!

Photo By Ryan Brett Puckett

Thank you Good Friday and best of luck!

Links:
Good Friday on Etsy
Facebook

Danielle Garrabrants photographed by me, 2008.

Last year through mutual friends, I was lucky enough to meet San Francisco fashion designer Danielle Garrabrants. Since that glorious day, we have done two photo shoots together and both of have were completely successful. Danielle is a hilarious, creative force (the most random things come out of her mouth like, ” I need to sell some clothes. Or start dealing drugs.”) and I love her unique fashion sense. After the success of our most recent photo shoot, (Due Citta Fall 2009) I asked her some questions about fashion, her life, and why she loves what she does.

Name: Danielle Garrabrants & Cadi Storm (Danielle’s Due Citta NY counterpart)
Location: San Francisco & NYC
Occupation: Pattern Maker & Fashion stylist

Fashion design? How did it happen?
I was a frustrated youth (weren’t we all?). Frustrated with my naturally anorexic figure, which has since blossomed, I had to make things to fit me. I also had to make things that said “fuck you, I’m bad ass.” I think that’s why Cadi and I work so well together–we are both kind of Dadaist with fashion. Sometimes we want to make something pretty, sometimes times we want to make people think, and sometimes we just want to make a joke.

Where did the name “Due Citta” come from?
Cadi and I worked together in San Francisco for years. When she moved to New York, we decided to change our label to Due Citta, which means “Two Cities.”

What is your favorite thing to make and why?
I love making dresses. I feel so locked up at work, since I have to stick to patterns and follow rules. But if you give me a dressform and five yards of crappy fabric, I feel free. We like to go with the flow and do what works best, which is maybe not always exactly what we sketched.

Any good Due Citta stories?
All our shows are outrageous. I love having them, despite what they do to me. I get super nervous, everyone is calling me for directions, there are a million things to oversee, and all the while we still have to add finishing touches. I basically turn into a mega-bitch, and Cadi kinda runs shit. We get pretty wasted during our shows. I know that’s not professional. Maybe we should have been rock stars.

What are your favorite things besides making beautiful clothes?
I’m happy participating in any crafting or art related endeavors. Being outside, the beach, the park, or a road trip.

What is the plan for your line?
I’m planning on winning the lottery to fund our entrance into the market place. Until then, we will keep doing our shows and displaying our art. We have done eight shows in the Bay Area, so now I think It’s time to paint the east coast red.

I’m also working on a line of vintage-inspired pieces with my friend Courney Olsson, called “Det Sätt Vi”. We are using recycled materials like sheets, so every piece still maintains that one of a kind flare. See you at Indie Mart soon?

Links:
Due Citta Myspace

“A piece of jewelry can be very personal. I like to think that our energy is absorbed into the things we wear everyday. You can layer a few necklaces and sort of create a little story about yourself.”
-Regina Pruss

Name: Regina Pruss
Location: Detroit, Michigan

I found the wonderful Etsy store chain chain chained from an ad in the latest issue of N.E.E.T. magazine. Immediately captured by the gorgeous oversized pendants, multiple chains, and imagery, I was curious about the designer behind these whimsical and stylish pieces.

Ten things that describe you:
1. traveler
2. alchemist
3 gambler
4. charmer
5 day dreamer
6. gypsy
7. optimist
8. clown
9. fancy dancer
10. tree lover

Why or how did you start designing jewelry?
I started making jewelry at the end of 2005. At around that time I was spending a lot of time behind a desk, designing corporate brochures, letterheads, business cards, you get the picture. Uninspired and bored, I wanted distraction, something to keep my hands busy. At the time I never imagined chain chain chained would grow into a business.

How do you come up with your designs? Do you have specific designs in mind when you start, or do they just happen?
There is no set formula for coming up with the designs. If I find something that inspires me I buy it, bring it home and let it lay around, age a while until the moment strikes. A piece of jewelry can be very personal. I like to think that our energy is absorbed into the things we wear everyday. You can layer a few necklaces and sort of create a little story about yourself. Most of the jewelry I wear isn’t expensive, but it holds a lot of meaning to me. An example would be a copper penny I got in Maine paired with a Native American ring I purchased somewhere out West.  Part of the process of creating, in anything I do, is the actual hunt. I could spend hours upon hours digging through an old wear-house full of trinkets, or drive all day from one second hand store to the next in search of a treasure.

I just purchased your lovely bow necklace, how did you come up with that design?
I like dainty things. Bows make me think of innocence, play, childhood, simplicity. However, I paired the bow with a bold chain to make it less precious.

Do you enjoy selling on Etsy?
Etsy is definitely a big part of my business. It’s given me the opportunity to meet a lot of artists and make great contacts along the way.

What are your future plans for your business?
To grow, of course. Getting my jewelry out to more stores! I love to collaborate with fashion designers and stylists, so hopefully more of that!

Thank you Regina! From the chain chain chained Etsy shop, I just purchased the lucky horseshoe necklace for Richard Wayne and the big bow necklace for myself.

links:
chainchainchained Etsy
chainchainchained blog
Flickr

Photography for San Francisco/New York clothing designers Due Citta. Graphic design and branding for a new Sacramento salon, Amithyst Boutique Salon. Collaboration with Sacramento clothing stylist, Amber Mortensen from PainfullyHip.com.

Nowhere Girl. Hair/Make-Up/Styling: Dee Larsen, Model: Alexis Carene

Richard Wayne flies home today and I couldn’t be more than excited to have him back in California! Turn up, The Pet Shop Boy’s, “Love Comes Quickly,” which is my sweet song of the week.

Caitlin Sherer’s lovely art is for sale on Etsy! I just purchased this gorgeous piece, which I can’t wait to frame and add to my art collection!

Oh how I dream about these Betsey Johnson heart tights and Unicorn Princess Heels from ModCloth!

Happy Birthday dear Siouxsie Sioux! Become inspired by the fashion photography of the great Steven Meisel.  For much vintage fashion loveliness, check out the website of a favorite, myvintagevogue.  Photographers Julia Galdo and Cody Cloud, just posted a devastatingly beautiful photo editorial.

My talented illustrator friend Jessica M. painted this image of Richard and I. Jessica makes me feel so special, I really hope one of these days I can capture her image through my lens. What are your favorites this week?