..: Astoria Underground :..

dive.

2011-05-22T22:24:00.001-07:00

oh hey there.

2011-05-16T14:10:00.000-07:00

so many boobies, but such a great series!

lovely skies.

2011-03-22T13:15:00.001-07:00

great mix of elements...

2010-12-24T14:17:00.001-08:00

Rye Rye "Sunshine" featuring M.I.A. from Michael Mees on Vimeo.

liked it so much, I bought it...

2010-11-08T19:04:00.000-08:00

http://www.etsy.com/listing/54202597/air-anenome-a-brooch

everyday portland.

2010-09-05T18:07:00.000-07:00

I've realized I need more walls for all the joy I find in others' work lately.

everyday portland

extroverted feelers....

2010-09-05T18:02:00.000-07:00

if you've studied enough Meyers-Briggs, you'll have come to the following confusing terms:
extroverted thinkers vs. introverted thinkers
extroverted feelers vs. introverted feelers

I am an extroverted thinker/introverted feeler and so are both my parents and my sister. my brother is an introverted thinker/extroverted feeler, although, I'd like to think he's not as crazy because our influence. ;)

sometimes I notice, after following or befriending, someone will get annoying fast by being so extroverted with their status updates, etc. I choose to disband our online relationship before you ruin my day. dude, I don't care to know how you feel or upset you are, or ecstatic about a thing, or why...so damn exhausting.

real example of a girl I just unfollowed on dailybooth:

Smile to me!
Because I neeeed it soo badly...
Feeling bad
No mood at all...
Stress

and plus can I have a HUG? k? pleeease ;/

xoxoxoxo

*gag*

one thing...

2010-08-30T21:51:00.001-07:00

...on my neck, couldn't be bothered to make a full scarf. ha

perhaps I shall actually cut out some muslin next coupla days.

doofus.

2010-08-17T19:11:00.000-07:00

so I think my problem is I think I've got to plan out a large masterpiece before I can start to make anything creative...and that it has to make sense and be visually awesome --what a stupid excuse. like any artist hesitates, if they did nothing, nothing would ever have been created. I don't think like this in my normal life, planning extensively detailed precisions, no idea why I think it's a priority in an even more open atmosphere.

whatever, let's see what I can make all whimsy-like this week....

all in all is all we are.

2010-04-16T13:42:00.000-07:00

I've been listening to nirvana these last few days while working on the computer. I've come to the conclusion that all apologies is my favorite track. hadn't thought much about the lyrics, but my guess would be it's about his own marriage. his wife was so opposite of him, solace was getting out and just sitting in the sunshine, thinking. knowing kurt was a fellow INFP, I totally get that! but really it's the music: vocals as well as the unexpected violin {studio recording} --this was a grunge song, right? ;)

can't get the little muppet outta my head....

2010-04-02T23:08:00.000-07:00

WHERE'S THE MONEY GEORGE ? from oizo mr on Vimeo.

spring has sprung...

2010-03-03T16:08:00.000-08:00

in my front yard anyway. there's quite a bit of planting i need to do but other priorities seem to rob my time lately. we will see how the beds look in a month or so. :)

forest faeries...

2010-01-18T16:12:00.000-08:00

I hate to spend money --but I love finding the perfect thing!

New picture to be hung in my bathroom, although i need to get a frame together. At the craft store down the street they have frames made from old barn boards! Normally I wouldn't think to put something so delicate in a musty-tempered room, but if you've been to my house you know the sink is separate from the shower area... confusing, I'll have to take a picture once it's all set up. :)

{Jenny, this is the same photographer who did Tempest in a Teacup, in your blog header}

my God is the day and I am the night.

2009-12-10T18:15:00.000-08:00

Okay...I've not had tears over a Rob song at first listen since 2004 with Everlasting, which is when I found his music originally on a random myspace search. A good musician will enhance learning by developing experimental sounds to find a signature sound, vocally, instrumentally, lyrically... i think this is it: Conviction

(.mp3 free download)

say it right.

2009-09-12T16:00:00.000-07:00

Blind Pilot...thanks jenny.

the medders.

2009-08-20T23:39:00.000-07:00

I'm privileged to be a friend of their father, Jule, on facebook...he's uploaded some old photo-gold. One must wonder if they ever thought they'd still be making music....

Forget how I found Cheyenne's music myspace page, but I'm glad it was stumbled upon. I love this song and man, what a good job they did on the video. :) Buy the album, I did. Download this song.

i boughts it....

2009-08-18T02:45:00.000-07:00

Climb.it'll be just lovely in my {future} sewing room. :)

dailyboothers.

2009-08-07T21:39:00.000-07:00

we shall see if it's awesome, betta be cuz the site's too cool to lack so much 2.0-ness. le dailybooth. also new to the internetz is astoriaunderground, perhaps I'll actually make stuff to showcase...at least in pictureform. yes, it's a freely hosted right now --how'd you know?!-- but that'll change. nothing there but it's a big step for me --everytime I say the phrase my brain jumps...I guess that's a good thing ha.

how I love witty titles..

2009-08-02T01:44:00.000-07:00

The Littles Get Evicted Leaving 1985 Epoch Green Dollhouse Furniture Behind {etsy listing}

oh martha...

2009-07-26T03:55:00.000-07:00

I plan on knowing these herbies up & down.

...well at least by next spring. :)

easy baking.

2009-07-14T04:54:00.000-07:00

Bought this book today, so darn cute. I want to try baking all the recipes, but mostly I want to jump in the book & eat them. :)

okay, perhaps not. Jenny, make me some shortbread cookies.

whoa man, that looks heavy.

2009-07-10T15:05:00.000-07:00

This dress is worth the $200, from someone who knows how long the crochet process takes, especially when make a wearable....that said, I'm not going to spend that much on a funky dress I'll wear once...yet anyway. ;)

...think this is more my style. yeah. is it good for a zarate wedding? i dunno, perhaps I'll break down & buy something at the "asia shop" :D

right...oh yeah, I have a blog...

2009-07-08T17:20:00.000-07:00

most women are busy for 9 months for other reasons, I on the otherhand have been working like a crazy person. no really, I'm sure my family thinks I'm completely wack.

At this moment in time, there are 1,797 members on our forum, about 10-20 new people everyday...I only half-made it in january. It seems I play the catch-up game everyday [right now I'm supposed to be cropping pictures for tomorrow's video/blog] and I wonder why we're never finished.

Specifics: I wake up about 12pm...lately more like 1pm. I take care of Skipper [yes, our Macaw] for about an hour (food, clean her cage & dishes, give her toys, get her out of trouble). Log onto gmail & facebook simutanously, checking updates, archiving things out of the way, planting potatoes. ;) wake Dave up about 3 or 4pm and go over the day's schedule (usually the same). after that I can do some web edits or photoshop [did I mention I'm supposed to be cropping pictures?] whist listening to music through large headphones that make my ears hot. food time! for all 3 of us. hopefully by this time I've changed out of my pajamas. back to edits and more emails which have arrived. another meeting with Dave in the form of an evening walk. more edits and more farmtown on facebook. 10pm is about time to get ready for the next day...save & compress video to divX, change homepage, make sure blog page has photos and correct urls. 1am-3am (depending on trouble) is uploading onto YouTube, checking everything looks & sounds alright. twitter link. I go to bed but not asleep, usually watch Turner Classic Movies or

Without a Trace until 5 or 6am. sleep....wake up at 12pm...

This is why i have no life & have forgotten my dear bloggy. but it's alright, we won't live like this forever, mark my words. While the economy is bleh our business, interest & gross income continues to go up. I say gross because we do have some employees to pay & I give them a higher percentage when we get more.

...i think I'll write again a little later but I must finish this work for today. good to see you.

credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/robrochford/

"and then something goes amiss"

2008-11-01T16:20:00.000-07:00

cutest thing in awhile...

autumnies.

2008-09-26T15:09:00.000-07:00

Well it's that time of year again, albiet without any wind gusts, all the trees are still green and it's nearly 100 degrees outside...I really do wish I lived in an area where there was obvious seasons; all I have here is hot and not so hot --I mean, really, even people who live in deserts have more variation that me.

Hey aren't these cute? It's 4 bucks for the pattern....

So I've noticed a lot of people (myself included sometimes) love to drool over etsy, but not too many purchase little cheapies. I will attest, once you buy a few things, you'll realize you should never visit the site again because! it's fantasticly addicting, you can't help but buy stuff all day long. much more satisfying than accumulating items in "favorites". :)

'bout time.

2008-09-12T23:44:00.000-07:00

1) I now have a blue & gold macaw parrot, he is so cute. :)

2) I was looking at style.ca again tonight. I love this mag, even though it mainly deals with retail stores, huzzah for canada. checkity check it.

pinplucked blue.

2008-08-24T22:11:00.000-07:00

I've finally found the most amazing set for my bed, love this...but at $140 for the quilt alone and another $50 each for the shams, what's up with this?! Pretty sure Bed, Bath & Beyond are on my we-don't-like-you-anymore list for good now. it's enough to make one manic, 80 bucks for that is fair, still spendy, but at least it makes sense --a machine made it! Seems I'll just have to make it myself...see, I've always wanted to make a striped quilt, and now, apparently, I have to. huzzah! don'tcha just adore the little bowie things?

for a sister's admiration.

2008-08-24T13:46:00.000-07:00

so I guess the trick to this is not be spontaneous with the pictures, but upload them first, in reverse order. bleh... Alright, I uploaded these in my [re]construction album on facebook, but since jenny doesn't have one, I must boast here too. :) idea stolen from an old elle decor magazine....

this is my version, eventually i may get some of those cute indian circle mirrors because I totally know how to sew them on! sequins just won't do, all in time I suppose. :) still haven't hemmed these, i kinda like 'em raw edges. dunno we'll see.

just poppin' in...

2008-08-18T22:38:00.000-07:00

...to say I've been busy with many unrelated things. painting a dresser drawer and this lovely mirror. :) scheduling days to film (and trying to mastermind a good topic) for the weekly youtube. reorganizing my apartment for 1) sanity 2) hopefully moving soon 3) a 20 year old blue & gold macaw named Skipper...many think its actually a girl, plus that name is simply ridiculous, so we'll leave it up to Dave to rename her proper. ha!

also completely unrelated, my sister recently has had her 3rd failed pregnancy in 8 months, please keep her health in your prayers, thanks.

this is the recent youtube, i play cameo.

hurdle.

2008-07-30T12:11:00.000-07:00

My life seems like walking up a slippery hill. Once I have acheived a satisfactory height, I feel certain I've been treking far enough to stop and look around..and then the realization comes, I haven't ascended much at all. Cryptic? Indeed.

baked pudding...

2008-07-27T11:16:00.000-07:00

...not to be confused with Jello instant goo pudding. This is soooo good, everyone must make this at least once. I could write you out the recipe but I'm lazy so see the attached scan instead. :)

This can be made with any type of berry, I prefer to use blueberries simply because I prefer blueberries above any other. I have not tried strawberries (they would need to be quartered probablly) since they don't last as long in my house, Dave loves the strawberries.

Simple to make, serves hot so it's nice after a meal, with whipped or ice cream of course. :) Forgive the picture placement, I want you to be able to click on them. I'll post my own picture at the end of this once it's done baking.

As a note, the writing (whatever) means whatever flour you'd like, I don't have flour made from wheat in my pantry anymore, I typically use either rye, soy, spelt, kamut, or rice flour, or any sort of combination.

mmmmm...

*chomp!*

digi-stripe.

2008-07-15T11:34:00.000-07:00

...That's what Dave called it anyway. I oddly have started the finishing construction on the bottom half first, usually I start with the bodice and work myself downward.... perhaps it's because I was quite eager to get the pockets right. Observe the lining:

pieces of the people we love.

2008-07-10T07:19:00.000-07:00

It's nearly [only] 7:30am and I've been up for 2 hours now, working on re-vamping our RC website, listening/watching this over & over for most of that time, still trying to wake up. jazzy baby, jazzy.

a momentary hesitation.

2008-06-26T22:51:00.000-07:00

To the dismay of my mother, I have not been working on my purple jumper. Instead, I've single-handedly saved Christmas! ...oh alright, that's a bit silly, but nearly true. Dave & I have been re-creating the website, trying to get out of the kit business but still stay in the remote control plane realm by recommending products that beginners can fly (without stocking them ourselves, see).

It's been difficult to incorporate this ingenious idea to our current system --people have come to know us as selling our own designs and making quirky weekly RC videos on the YouTube. Basically, it'll be a glorified FAQ page/site --brilliant! :) In-between rearranging Dreamweaver cells for the pages to go up this weekend, I'm writing this because I get distracted easily -and funny thing too because some of my best ideas have come from wasted-I'm-supposed-to-be-doing- something-else-right-now time.

I'm working on a pillowcase design (sounds boring, yes but it's cool), must get it out of my system before tackling the jumper, tailoring takes a lot outta ya.

the above photo was taken by one of The Rakes while on their last trip to Russia, says their myspace picture caption. :)

docket.

2008-06-13T23:35:00.001-07:00

1) Guess what I'm eating ...probally not too good because it's close to midnight & I wouldn't want to turn into a Gremlin; that and I think I'm fighting off a cold. In any case, there are lyrics to an early Good & Plenty jingle on their page, in my mind I vaguely hear my father's voice singing it --probablly without an explaination, as usual...which is fantastic, as usual. :) http://www.hersheys.com/products/details/goodandplenty.asp

2) Waiting for this week's RC video to upload, hopefully the center shot works out. I hate having to go in, fix it & sit around waiting all over again just to find out I still need to figure it. Oh the anxiety!

3) I've decided to construct a bed because I've never had a proper one since I moved out from my Aunt Nora's in '99 --goodness! who feels old? *raises hand* For simplicity's sake, I'm making a simple one --didn't mean to reuse the same word to redefine what I'm saying-- that's similar to the one reality-design shows make up when they're on a budget. Granted, I do like a more-old fashioned piece of furtiture, but having a husband who has a business where bits of depron foam are in nearly every room of the house, I've kinda put off making the home look nice. But! I am happy to say, this year I am reclaiming quite a bit --not entirely because there's only so much one can do to a rental --Plus! we hope to be shipping out of Los Angeles in the spring, so I don't want more to move.

Somewhat a mixture of these: http://www.instructables.com/id/Cheap-easy-low-waste-platform-bed/ and http://www.instructables.com/id/TwinFullQueenKing-Platform-Bed-With-Danish-Insp/ okay enough of that, I'll post when I have pictures to show....

4) Reading this article with the quite fair Irish lass has made me realize I reeeeeally need to live in Alaska for two winters-worth or wear a huge grandma sunhat whenever I'm outside. It's not cool for a girl's face to be darker than her ankles. :/

mmk it's after midnight (I'm still in human form) and the YouTube vid has panned out smoothly, so off to bed and perhaps I'll actually fall asleep before 2am.

perfect compliment to a nice cuppa tea.

2008-06-03T00:46:00.000-07:00

I made this spongecake this morning; 3/4 cup of sugar, 3/4 cup of flour and 4 eggs makes:

mmmmm it's quite tasty, nearly all gone. :) I"ll post the recipe here in a bit, need to finish downloading something....

EDIT: Because it's méringue-esque, the lightness is comparable to ladysfingers, if you've ever eaten those...you cannibal you! ha, the typically ornery dusting of powdered sugar actually works here because it's drier...also an excuse for tea! :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Make the cake batter using 4 whole egss, 3/4 cup sugar, and 3/4 cup cake flour [I actually used rye & it came out fine]. I do suggest using parchment paper for lining as it likes to stick...not really but the less freaking out about it not looking nice, the better.

1) In a bowl, combine the eggs (at room temperature) and sugar. Set the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water; the base of the bowl should not touch the water.

2) Beat with a handheld electric mixer at medium-high speed until the mixture is very thick and pale, about 10 minutes.

3) Lift out the beaters; the mixure on the beaters should trail back into the surface of the remaining mixture in the bowl to make a ribbon that holds its shape.

4)Remove the bowl from over the pan of water and contiue beating until the mixture is cool, 2-4 minutes.

5) Sift the flour and fold it into the mixture, cutting in to the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula or large metal spoon, and turning the batter over, working gently yet thoroughly, to retain the volume of the egg and sugar mixture.

6) Pour the batter into the prepared pan or pans and back as directed. To test if a spongecake is done, press the center lightly with your fingertip; the cake should spring back.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Pour the batter into a greased, bottom-lined, and floured 9 inch round cake pan [or whatever]. Bake in a preheated 350F oven 30-35 minutes. Let the cake cool in the pan 10 minutes, then unmold onto a wire rack and cool completely. Before serving, peel off the lining paper. Dust lightly with confectioners' sugar.

whoo! enjoy. :)

Athough not for another year....

2008-05-31T12:23:00.000-07:00

...props to Robbo.

This is my muse and my model, can anyone discover the reason why?

It was he who informed me about the importance of a well-made bespoke wool suit and the inspiration to design them.

www.last.fm/music/the+northern+coast

photo credit: James Chapman (n.b. the jacket is not mine, in case you were wondering)

"and now for something completely different."

2008-05-30T20:53:00.001-07:00

sentimental

A friend, whom I have never met, is moving to Portland in about a month... and it made me jealous and it made me think. if I cannot move yet (but may be the end of the year!) why do I make myself sulk at that which I cannot have... basically, the things I love have become things I abhor. I don't want to talk about moving to the Northwest, because I cannot move to the Northwest right now. I try not to think about gorgeous wool suiting fabrics and garment details like tuxedo tails and spread collars. However, I have to surround myself with these things to keep myself sane, even if at first glance I may seem like a crazy hermit. Thanks for reading. :)

(photo is of The Pied Cow in Portland, Oregon)

'tis perfection!

2008-05-28T23:32:00.000-07:00

Alright! this sloper is finished. Now on to cutting the real fabric.

The last thing to be changed was the issue of the straps falling down, this seemed to be a problem with everyone's jumper. I simply raised the back piece by 4 inches...well 3.5" actually.

Seems to work much better, I have zero strappy issue with this muslin --and that's with no lining support and baste stitching. :) gosh I'm such a damn genius!

...try not to mind my "twin" or the horrid office mess in da background.

what is a dart anyhow?

2008-05-21T16:28:00.000-07:00

-noun, a tapered seam of fabric for adjusting the fit of a garment.

Alright so this week I've been (off & on) working on the sloper for the jumper dress I mentioned in last post. I know never to trust patterns, they're never correct if I just cut the pieces out without making a muslin first --too many wasted bolts of fabric over the years proves this.

So first to get changed up were the side seams, most American sewing patterns are default for B cup -I aint that big so I had to decrease the size. (The Burda company are not American, but the patterns on the BurdaStyle site are.) Most novices get nervous at this idea and so opt to ignore the problem of the roomy booby. I really don't want the straps falling down, as they would have done if I hadn't fixed the seams: the front and back lines are both low-cut = no support for the shoulder straps, except to hold on for dear life... okay yes, i will be wearing a blouse underneath. :P

In case one is wondering why I didn't just create some darts: I hate darts... hate making them, the time it takes to make them right --and even! lop-sided boob darts are the pits --ha! which is funny, because that's exactly where I took-in the fabric!!! *le sigh* and for this reason I'm going to enjoy designing menswear.

Second thing which has been perfected are the pocket flappy deals. I was putting this together and those triangle flaps make the entire ensemble look terribly homely. Pieces 4 and 6a will be combined and made into one, part 6b will be lining to make the whole thing less bulky there (ai, chubby hips are indeed undesirable), piece 5 needs to be extended so the seam isn't right there at the edge, but tucked under....it's kinda hard to explain without using hand motions.

I understand there are loads of buttons on this thing, but the pockets detract from the line of the garment --there are 6 panels here! three in the front and three in the back, did you realize that? no, hard to spot with all those damn buttons --THIS is almost military, but only because it's drabby. Check the homesewn models, not lookin' so keen (HERE), mine will be more elegant. I'm still deciding if I want to do the belt thing at all, it's completely useless but darn cute, I know I'll use the idea elsewhere if not here.

The fabric I had a hard time with, mainly because I'm trying to use up my stash...i wanted it teal-like because so many have complimented me when I'm wearing that color, but alas, I do not have such a find. Alright, my picks:

Thought I'd go crimson, it'll be nearly autumn. Whadda think? either top pinker & red bottom or go all crinkly... crinkley?

This blue is a thicker cloth and more apt for a tailored design (the looser weave is alright only if it's lined for stability) --oh see! that's another problem with the dress, the webpage should noted that one should not make this with drapey fabrics because it will look schlumpy, which the others do. ;)

So I've chosen this (bottom), unless something else comes along. It's purple, although looks a bit grey here (kinda the point & also why I like it). The dragony fabric I've had for a long time, I wanted it for something special and that opportunity has never arisen. This will be my pocket lining and the underskirt... I think I'll make it like an inverted kick pleat perhaps... uh naw, maybe not, a bit distracting... I guess we'll both find out in the next post. :)

postscript: I just realized why my pictures aren't clickable, I've moved them, they default at the top of the page when I add them, that doesn't help me... oh blogger, how rude!

camps de luca...say what?

2008-05-10T11:43:00.000-07:00

firstly let me post this, a video i wish i could understand.

there, now: http://www.burdastyle.com/creations/show/148 My cousin Tara is getting married at the end of summer. I plan on making this dress well before that *two sets of crosses fingers* --exactly my style. I've grown up with calico flowy skirts (most were made by myself), and this is more my forte. It's slightly tailored, lots of little pieces --I loooove it, also love the fact the pattern was free. yay!

I may make one in a similar drabby color like this, or perhaps one in a brighter navy ...but I'm not sure which color I should go with for the wedding, both are more autumy...ah well, August 30th is nearly there anyhow. :) ...i like those boots.

thirdly, a men's fashion forum!: http://www.styleforum.net i found it while rushing through Sleevehead's blog --yes, another jewel of a find this week.

Whoo! now to finish some horrible website coding so I can get on with life.

there shan't be vampires near me.

2008-05-05T23:58:00.000-07:00

Garlic Dip

For a great appetizer before dinner or as a snack any time of the day, try this quick and easy-to-make dip that goes with any type of fresh cut vegetables.

Prep and Cook Time:

2 cups cooked or canned garbanzo beans
1 TBS fresh lemon juice
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1/4 cup chicken or vegetable broth
3 TBS extra virgin olive oil
Sea salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
Serve with carrot sticks, celery sticks or any raw vegetable of your choice.
Serves 8

http://whfoods.org/genpage.php?tname=recipe&dbid=223

this just looks tasty. mmm! garlics.

a gentleman never wears brown in town.

2008-05-01T02:01:00.000-07:00

a look into the life of savile row tailors... it is a bit long, if you're wondering.

http://www.englishcut.com

pimp thine wig.

2008-04-30T23:10:00.000-07:00

So I'm rarely on MySpace anymore, too commercial and ...to be honest that smiley who screams "helllllo!" really irritates. Continueously I receive friend requests and frequently I ignore the notice; so much so I didn't realize I had a request from my own father who had had a music page set up.

Anyway, to bring things forward, I clicked to see if there were any real people actually wanting to be my friend --answer is no, but i did end up befriending these guys...hair products. yeah i know, but how amazing is this video? look! a bunch of pretty men, what is not to like? :D

http://www.americancrew.com/

do you know the way to...dublin?

2008-04-25T13:25:00.000-07:00

my local Walmart now sells beer. while shopping yesterday I spotted these Guinness Draught bottles, purty little things arn't they? I laughed out loud in the aisle because a funny thought crept into my head, what if corporate decided to take the alcohol out of, well ...alcohol? along the same manner as they thought it fitting to blurp out the cursin' dirty words from a selection of music.

...okay well I thought I was hiliarious, fellow shoppers most likely thought I was nuts. :)

drumline.

2008-04-25T12:24:00.000-07:00

that's it! Every time I fumble through The Los Angeles Times, I find articles. Interestingly, I only "read" the newspaper as I'm crumpling it all into cardboard boxes for packing or sorting through it quickly to get all the annoying ad inserts out. The Image section will always be set aside; if i don't like it, it goes along with its pals.

<--------------------
...which brings me to this

SorumNoce.com (hark, there's loud music when it opens)

Since the suit and tie era of The Kinks and The Rolling Stones early years, rock and roll and fashion have walked arm and arm. From trendsetters like David Bowie and Bryan Ferry to leather clad icons The Ramones and Aerosmith through to today's stars, attitude and imagination have always helped define and refine modern style.

With SORUM NOCE, legendary Velvet Revolver drummer Matt Sorum and veteran fashion designer Max Noce have aligned to create an elegant, innovative line of rock-inspired couture. The culmination of a 10-year friendship that began when Noce started crafting clothes for the one-time Guns N' Roses kitman, it flourished in 2005 when Max – who already had tenures at Valentino, Ungaro, Karl Lagerfeld and Dolce & Gabbana – and Matt decided to become business partners. "I've had the good fortune of being successful in the music business, which is a difficult business. So I went into it with an understanding that it might be a challenge," acknowledges Sorum. "But John Varvatos, who has become a really good friend of mine, gave me the courage to think that it could be done." For Max, drawing from his array of experience as a fashion merchandising manager-turned-designer has helped build the Sorum Noce line into something substantial and distinct. With an L.A. boutique unveiling set for Spring 2008 with a goal to have the designs in high end stores like Barneys New York by Fall, the Milan native asserts, "We're bringing old world values and sophistication back to fashion."

"I like things elegant, English tailored, black and small," Max says, acknowledging Depeche Mode as an influence. "There is nothing oversized or flashy in our line. I really enjoy working with high end cuts of fabric and I pride myself on delivering a quality product, couture with an edge." Meanwhile, Sorum admits to drawing influence from the aforementioned Thin White Duke. "I've always been interested in the idea of rock & roll and fashion," he says. "I'm really into suits. I was always really inspired by the actor Tony Curtis. He always looked impeccable. He was a master of style." But that's not to say Sorum isn't equally driven by his need to please the rock world. Not only do his Velvet Revolver bandmates support the initiative, they can be seen modeling designs on Sorum Noce's official website. "Duff [McKagan] and Slash have been a huge source of support." Matt says. "Everyone's been really excited by what we've done and can't wait until the boutique opens." "In fact," he continues, "I designed a leather jacket especially for Slash that has this special pocket for his Gitanes cigarettes and his lighter. And he loves it. And we're going to make that available to buy."

If one wonders how Sorum balances the launch of a clothing company and its respective flagship shop with recording and touring responsibilities, he concedes to being "a little bit of a workaholic." "I love keeping busy, because I find that when I'm off tour and I'm home in L.A., if I don't have anything to do, there's usually trouble waiting to happen. So I have to keep occupied with something. There is a reason I've redone three houses."
That admission puts an end to any speculation that Sorum might just be involved financially in the fashion venture, which the world famous drummer simply but firmly describes as "rock & roll couture."

"People might think that Matt is just my business partner, but he has a say in almost everything creatively," Max explains. "As long as I have known him, he has a tremendous eye for style. If he didn't, Sorum Noce wouldn't or couldn't exist. He and I are extremely proud of what we've come up with and we can't wait for the world to see what we've done."
Sorum Noce opens to the world in Spring 2008.

second-guessed.

2008-04-17T00:40:00.000-07:00

...i wish i had a cheerleader....somebody who, despite my continuous scrutiny and endless cases of defeat, still contends to encourage...

the name is apt.

2008-04-16T11:29:00.000-07:00

YEASAYER –noun 1. a person with an optimistic and confident outlook.

it was a pleasant surprise a few weeks ago when I first watched these videos which La Blogotheque posted. interestingly, the intention was simply to have the band walk to a house after a late night gig, piano waiting and they'd sing a song or two. no one realized it would become one of their best Take Away Shows yet (okay, so that's my bias...but well done for being improvised).

watching these makes me feel so inspired, and I crave that feeling of doing something great rather than just thinking... gives me hope that even though I'm not currently a tailor, soon I will be very good at it. the following is a brilliant example of how disorderly spontaneousness can spew forth a beautiful ambience that would never work if it were planned...I'm not particularly fond of yeasayer's recorded albums, that is to say, they don't jump out at me with overflowing talent, pity --I sound like a hippy, but can you feel the energy?:

sans oration.

2008-04-14T03:38:00.000-07:00

I have so much to rant on and on about, on many different subjects and zero time, that all you've had to read about my life are basically short random blurbs, mainly consisting of youtube embeds, mostly of music which help get me through the day...although, if I tried, I'm sure I could find much better.

p.s. the previous run-on sentence was inspired by Charles Dickens who did that a lot. man, that guy was brilliant.

photo credit: 'Ron Jones'

1010010111101110010101101001010010110

2008-04-08T19:04:00.000-07:00

been in my head all day. mmm binary. perhaps because I've been on the computer for more than twenty-four hours. hmm! indeed, maybe, yeah. :)

top of the pops.

2008-03-29T10:18:00.000-07:00

i do not apologize for my new wave obsession, just too good, and youtube just helps fuel it. this is the beginning of The Cure's musical career, before Robert Smith got all gothied up. don'tcha love the bassline? hard to work at the computer with this stuff on though cuz I keep dancing in my chair. ha. :)

...i actually prefered this version, older, but it's not embeddable. grrs.

happenstance muse.

2008-03-26T21:44:00.000-07:00

a bittersweet longing for things.

2008-03-14T02:28:00.000-07:00

Nothing excites the senses quite like sticking your head the window and clutching a camera whilst speeding 60 mph --yeah I know, mom was driving-- and nothing quite inspires me to live than sentient photographs ...and it sometimes helps if I took them. :)

Perhaps one day I'll buy myself a new [vintage] camera and take proper photos. Below is of the Columbia River looking northward at Washington state ...I'm sure I could sit on that pier all day and watch cargo ships from Asia slowly make their way toward Portland.

...unretentive

2008-03-06T23:50:00.000-08:00

I've just realized that girl [from a previous post] never sent me fabric or payment --this is a good thing, I don't feel like being meticulous about her skirt. I think I'd probablly cry if I saw a package from her in the mailbox... fingers crossed everyone!

"Too short of a tie makes you look like a rube."

2008-03-06T20:15:00.000-08:00

Just got introduced to this Brit tailor's how-to-properly-wear-clothes site. Informative, too bad I can't use any of this toward myself. ha

The Ten Most Common Men's Fashion Mistakes

Why be concerned with your appearance?

Is it really that important to your career, romance, or influence over others? Absolutely!!!

It’s a scientific fact that people who don’t know you make up their minds about you on a subliminal/prehistoric basis in 30 seconds or less. This evaluation of you by others takes place so quickly and is so entrenched in the human brain that it is not usually conscious thought.

Behavioral scientists tell us that we notice the following about another human being and in this order: Skin color, Sex, Age, Bearing (height, body language, etc.), Appearance, Direct Eye Contact, and Speech. The first three we can do nothing about, but we can take advantage of this knowledge to enhance and control how to present the best image of ourselves.
Since 80% of what others see is our clothes, lets look at some basic faux pas:

1. Never wear a short sleeve shirt with a tie. Short sleeve shirts are perceived as lower class apparel. Fine as part of a uniform or if you aspire to be a fast-food manager, not if you want to project a professional image.

And the Button-Down collar dress shirt is not acceptable for dressy eveningwear (after 6 PM) nor with a double-breasted suit. That's because even though it's now a daytime business classic it was originally a sport shirt. The collar was buttoned-down by polo players to keep it from flapping in their faces.

2. Shoes are one of the most evaluated elements of men's wardrobes. Your shoes should be clean, shined, in good repair and appropriate for the occasion. If you are wearing a suit, wear lace-up shoes. Don’t wear the same shoe on consecutive days and keep shoetrees in your shoes when you’re not wearing them.

3. Trousers should be long enough to cover your socks, and socks should cover your shins even when you cross you legs. Pants are long enough if they have a slight break in the front. Pleats and cuffs are traditional and functional. Pleats let you sit down comfortably and cuffs add weight to the bottoms allowing for proper drape.

4. Never wear both a belt and braces (suspenders). You'll appear insecure.

5. Socks should match your trousers.

6. Belts should match your shoes.

7. Ties should reach your belt line. This is neither arbitrary nor negotiable. Too short of a tie makes you look like a rube.

8. Properly knotted ties have a “dimple” under the knot. Clips and tacks are out of date.

How to get a dimple under your knot?
Place your index finger in the middle of the tie just under where the knot is forming, pinch that part of the necktie between your thumb and middle finger and squeeze together as you pull it down and tighten the knot.
The necktie knot should hide the collar button.

9. Suit and Sports jackets are symbols of authority. However the bottom buttons of men's jackets are not designed to be buttoned, since King Edward VII gained weight, and started a fashion trend (see detail below).

Single Breasted suits can have one, two, three or more buttons. Two and three button jackets are classic, one or more than three get you into the fashion forward arena, which is more suitable for social events than business. With two button jackets only the top button is fastened.

With three button jackets, you can close the middle, or middle and top button. Some suits are made so that the lapels roll to the middle button. On those suits you leave the top button unfastened. Some East Coast hipsters fasten only the top of three buttons!

Four or more button jackets may be designed to fasten all the buttons, even the bottom. If the bottom button of a four button can be closed without a noticeable pulling of the fabric, it’s ok to close or leave it open.

Double Breasted suits are the more formal of the two styles and can have four to six buttons with one or two “to button”. They are often identified by a two-number designation such as 4/2, 4/1 or 6/2 (also “four to two”).Translated, the first number gives the total number of front buttons and the second is the number of functioning buttonholes. It doesn’t always mean that all the buttons have to be fastened.
Often only the middle or upper button is secured on a 4/2 or 6/2, but the Duke of Kent started buttoning only his lower button creating a longer diagonal line across his chest giving the wearer a thinner, more dynamic look.

Why do men never button the bottom button of your suit, sports jacket, vest or Cardigan sweater?
King Edward VII, “Bertie”, son of Victoria (1841 – 1910, King 1901 - 1910) was so heavy that he could not get the bottom button fastened on his vest or to be more historically kind, maybe he just forgot. His subjects taking it as a fashion statement followed his lead and today most men’s suits, sports jackets or vests are not designed to button the bottom button. The tradition of not buttoning the bottom button may have also come from the early waistcoats, which were very long. It may have been out of necessity of being able to walk that the bottom buttons were left undone.

10. Suit and Sports jackets should fit properly which includes showing 1/4" to 1/2” of “linen” or shirtsleeve at the jacket sleeve.

We live in a complex, crowded society where considerate people dress appropriately for various places and occasions. Dressing appropriately is about respect for your fellow humans and our institutions.
-- Andy Gilchrist

postscript: Rube is essentially a hick or redneck...I guess.

the feeling of despair in the face of obstacles

2008-02-23T14:49:00.000-08:00

Discouragement, not defeat... albiet depressing perhaps. Annoying at not being able to dive into this because of prior commitments, but also a bit of superiority because this is what I've been going on about for the last two years. Tada! it has begun, you non-believers.

savile row.

2008-02-18T21:22:00.000-08:00

Alright, so indecisive me has decided to officially stop making clothing for women --not like I made much anyhow. I will, however, pledge to sew clothes for myself to wear.

Not that I question Him, but I really don't know what the good Lord was thinking when he designed us ladies --we're absolutely horrible to fit! Now that you know that [you random person reading this], imagine trying to get all those measurements correctly And! having the client actually like it and agree with you that it fits correctly... ugh... no thanks. Why would i ever want to drown myself in that stress? Nah! give me the men, oh you pretty chaps, you flat chests and hipless wonders. Erm... so in recap, if you're a girl* who would like me to make something or whatever: piss off. and i say that in the most loving manner. ;)

As of two years ago, my inspirational reading:
http://www.englishcut.com/archives/000029.html

*My sister is not included in this since she has basically just too amazing and also just happens to have nearly the same measurements as me.

"how quick come the reasons for approving what we like!"

2008-02-15T22:04:00.000-08:00

Alright so it's a girl movie, cute, unpredictable, old-fashiony... and I definitely do recommend it, for who Jane Austen was and what she accomplished in her short life, the amazing acting in this film, the ending. But mainly for the clothes! Just look at the above picture of Tom (yes it's true, he is the actor who played the creepy Mr. Tumnus in Narnia, but I assure you he is uncreepy here). I absolutely love fabric texture, especially donned in several mixes. Anyhow, I've just finished watching it, obviously, and had to post something.

a systematic arrangement of spontaneity.

2008-02-06T11:02:00.000-08:00

This weekend I received a request to make a skirt for a girl who's a bit larger than me. She specifically wants the one with the kooky chickens --not the fabric, just the pattern design. I've accepted the challenge.

Funny thing is, I've purposely taken everything off my etsy shop which is not currently constructed (if i can reproduce the item in a timely fashion, such as a scarf, I'll simply relist it), because I have been swamped with helping out the hubby with his plane business.

Late last night I was tweeking around with the pattern again (two in the morning is an excellent time to work --no really, it is). I think I've finally got it right this time but I'll sew up a quick muslin just in case --my size, her fabric and measurements have not arrived yet.

Working for your spouse at home is great in that you're able to look quite a mess until the errands need to be ran, but there's something to be had about working on your own projects...erm, my own. I took this job (skirt girl) because there won't be much effort on my part --granted, if I don't screw up her size. The fabric is cut on the bias so I have told her to give me more than enough...but now it's made me want to make more little skirties, one of a kind types mind you, and use up my hundreds of dollars worth of impuse-bought stash. blahty blah.

Now here's the clincher, where have those old friends, time and money, disappeared to? By doing my own thing now, I'm using up the effort for the hubby & I to get better financially so we can then start oh i dunno, a clothing business perhaps. :) By waiting and pressing onward with these radio control planes --really not my cuppa tea-- I'm helping my-future-self....but that damn spontaneious side of me, coupled with perpetual lazyness, rebels against this idea. If you're into prayer, that's what I need it for.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=6791575

the wide expanse of scientific knowledge.

2008-01-30T17:41:00.000-08:00

...and yet what they know about the world of digital media remains identical.

things on top of things.

2008-01-18T17:06:00.000-08:00

URGENT: Go download Blackball False, Truth's I Prefer Hello this very minute --hey look, it's free, sweeeeet. All one-man bands should sound this amazing... although I know nothing about the man. While you're at it, get Malmo's first album as well. I've got 'em on repeat tonight while working in Adobe Illustrator --headphones required-- makes the time just fly on by. :)

dance to the radio.

2008-01-16T22:34:00.000-08:00

1) My brother came by tonight -not unusual, I have his art dept. truck in my yard- and once again my knowledge of music was degraded. James has an uncanny wit about him and he'll use it every chance he can get, and that's just fine, I've missed that.

Tonight I was again reminded what it is to feel normal, to be made fun of fair and square...odd as it sounds, that's a treasure. I feel out of place with most people, it's a comfort to have someone know exactly what my strengths and weaknesses are and still want to talk with me. yay.

2) Quick rant, an excuse to post the amazing Joy Division. The thing I like most about their sound is not necessarily the lead guitar, but the drums! Quote from 24 Hour Party People, "...play faster, but slower." [listen to what i mean in the song Sound Of Music]

3) I'm working on a quilt --yes it's just "cute" now but there will be amazing embroidery running horizonally across. I'm quite excited, nothing cooler than hand stitchin'. :)

so I been thinkin'...

2008-01-11T19:40:00.001-08:00

I need more time. Actually, I need money. I'm barely paying off my credit card bills now that I've not been working at Peet's Coffee --yes I get a cut from the hubby's biz, but it's not official and proper like ripping open the paycheck envelope that you've slaved two weeks for.

Dave & I were talking yesterday about how great it will be this time, next year. If the Lord is willing, we'll be getting ready to move up north --probablly into my grandparents' basement until we find a home to rent or purchase. That will definitely be a turning point in my life, an obvious push to grow up --for good. No more pretty soons, no more somedays, it will be the start of something great...someday pretty soon.

Until then my friends, my task of being the coolest designer-tailor chick this side of the moon has been on hold -feels like Christmas Eve every single day, that anticipation. Just gets sad when it's winter all the time and no Christmas.

So I need to have time to make things, but I need more money to make the time so that I may have more money to make the things....I tend not to make sense, and this entry is no exception. I have a distorted reality where I pretend everyone understands me. This used to kill me because it's simply untrue; but in the last year I'm finally okay with my quirkiness and intend to use it toward my advantage of taking over the world ...one suit [literal and figurative] at a time. ha! that was truely corney.

antithesis.

2008-01-01T23:54:00.000-08:00

I'm quite sure inspiration only flows forth by improbable means. It's never where you've set it, or where you expect it find it...yet somehow it's there waiting when you revisit the same place.

a song recorded by means of the above piano: song for a film
(the code for an embeddable player was messing with my head... thus no player.)

yes, I’m using millimeters.

2007-12-29T14:49:00.000-08:00

The best part of sewing for me is not the sewing, it’s my imagination…man, that sounded corny. I think of how a project will look like before I’ve started it, then I think about the work of how to construct it –but backwards! Once I’m back at the beginning I, well, begin. Currently, I am putting together ties which are to be embroidered. I’ve seen people take old ties and hand-screenprint them, usually with white ink…paint? what is that stuff?

A few I’ve seen also have been embroidered, but from what i can tell, the tie is already sewn up once they start stitchin’. This makes me happy because mine is better. :) My goal has been for the last year or so to have a suitline, but I’ll be happy with a tieline.

While designing some bits, I caught myself starting to cut this out, and realized no one sees this part. It’s ugly, ya can’t tell where it goes, somewhat embarasing for me… I cannot hide faults when all’s exposed like this. I’ve not been formally trained, and for years that idea had made me not want to do anything for fear all the mistakes would be pointed out. To hell with mistakes, they are how we learn.

explaination of a name.

2007-12-29T14:43:00.000-08:00

I don't like this post, it's not my best writing, and therefore quite sad, but it was on my mind at the time & I can't be bothered to make changes. ha!

This is my logo, and I am extremely proud of myself for masterminding it. I can say this with confidence and a bit of arrogance because finding the label name and logo to go with it is difficult, while at the same time pivotal to a business. This is the theme which everything now will grow from.

Astoria: Famously the city in New York state named after John Jacob Astor (rich entrepreneur whose demise was the Titanic). Also historically known as the small town in the northwest corner of Oregon where the explorers Lewis and Clark bunked out for one miserably rainy winter. They had failed at discovering a Northwest passage, but their trek was soon retraced by those tempted with the eagerness to get rich from the fur trade. John Jacob Astor was noticeably the most profitable and hence this settlement was named after him, albeit he never ventured out west.

Being the first established U.S. settlement west of the Rockies [other sources say the Mississippi River], there is a load of mystery bundled up in Astoria. Quite a lot of history, and some of it lies underground.
Knowledge of underground passageways and rooms beneath city streets are nothing new –they are, however, undisputably intriguing. Astoria, like its wooden street cousin Seattle, has had its share of fires, the worst was in 1922. Both had to be rebuilt, both built up from the rubble, both have musty dilapidated undergrounds. Unlike Seattle, Astoria’s underground system is not interconnected. Most are large rooms or corridors from a small basement only accessible through downtown businesses. There are only a few entrances that I know of personally, one from the lower level of J.J. Newberry (called something else now). I’m sure if I asked around I could find all of them… perhaps there’s a listing.

London has its famous Underground logo, which is, c’mon, just a bunch of subway stations. Imagine the world all worked up over the Los Angeles Metro system logo… I just think the idea of a city being defined by such icons is funny –and yet I’m using that premise to put Astoria back on the map.
In recent years (after The Goonies craze) the popularity of the city has dwindled, as well as the romanticism. Even before you’ve entered city limits, you cannot help looking at the abundance of Queen Anne architecture blanketing the hillside. The united States of America is still quite young and yet Astoria has had Europeans walking its turf for over 200 years: British, Spanish, French, Danish, Norweigean, Finnish… even cargoships full of shanghaied Chinese. Did you know the Japanese shot ammunition on the US mainland during World War II? They did, at Fort Stevens, and we shot back. The Astoria-Megler bridge is the longest three-span truss in the world, at just over 4 miles long. The first post office west of The Rockies was established in Astoria, as well as the first US Customs house [ever].

This is all to say I love this city, but there is also darkness which hovers there. It can be felt in the air, seen on the face of its citizens. It sounds ridiculous, but by taking the name of the city as part of my own, I feel as though somehow this is prying the hold of an unknown eeriness which has been clinging to the West’s foundation for two centuries.

atelier.

2007-12-29T14:22:00.000-08:00

This has been my workshop for now, yes basically just a niche in the corner… but I love it.

I'm deleting the WordPress bloggy, I'm never on ...perhaps because there is no one I know who owns a blog is over there. Therefore these few posts today are transfers. :)