little red fox

chorewear for spring

I've finally been given a name for something I've loved for so long and never quite known what to call it. Some of my recent-years' clothes-obsessions have hovered around something I've called "orphan-chic" or "street-urchin style" or "depression-era chic" or I even heard something like "dustbowl style" once to describe it. But there were some things I loved that didn't quite fit under those (vaguely hilarious) umbrellas. Until the other day I heard "chorewear" and the cute little Edison-bulb in my head lit up. That's it! That's what I love. 

I found out about the above label via Ginny Branch and I'm obsessed anew: Arts & Sciences. I mean--even the name is just wonderful. Their lookbook is here but here's a few of my faves from the new Spring 2012 line (besides wanting every single piece from the first photo):

 

And then Yokoo has started a homemade label (in addition to her eponymous line of hand-knitted goods) called Mother on Etsy with similar properties, which I also love. 

Something about this idea of clothes to me as an homage to womens' work of the past, I find really moving and extraordinarily beautiful. In contrast to modernity and the place women currently hold in society and the workplace, there was a time when the very simple work of the home was her world. It's humbling to see that represented in clothes, I think. Something about that...

I also think a lot of this could be thrifted then altered into similar ideas. That is certainly the next step for me. And I'm starting with the loose, cropped jeans from the top photo. 

 

 

 

girl crush(es): tanya davis and andrea dorfman

...because anybody who makes something like this has got to be wonderful!! My beautiful friend Rosie sent me this--knowing that neither one of us is technically "alone" (me: married, she: engaged). But that we both like to be alone. And speaking for myself, it is a cherished, important time when I have it. I first discovered it--or knew what it was--when I started going to the movies by myself in high school. And that's the way it is: my brain and thoughts expand in ways they simply can't--or won't--when other people are present. And I think there's nothing wrong with that. I knew that already and this little film confirms it. And like Rosie said--it's kinda best watched alone :)

girl crush: amanda vähämäki

I have been meaning to share this. I bought this book a few weeks ago at the amazing Rocketship comic book store here in Brooklyn. Disclaimer: I don't know if I could say I'm a comic book "fan" per se--I love art, I love folk art, I love drawing, I love storytelling and some comics fit into that. I'm generally not crazy about super-hero anything so I don't walk into a comic book store and want to buy everything. I love looking at all of it, I get inspired by a lot of it but not everything is up my alley. So this was a total accident--this happy little find. I knew nothing of this brilliant Finnish author/illustrator but she might now be my very favorite and is a new girl crush only after this one tiny gem. This book is...how to say? It's so weirdly brilliant it's now a 'before and after' marker for me in terms of graphic storytelling. It's bizarre and beautiful and primitive and moving--and short!--and so stream-of-consciousness it feels very dangerous and spooky...and I wasn't quite sure why. I blazed through it the first time and then the second and third time tried to go slow and savor every tiny element. She channels some deep childhood/dreamscape/all-rules-are-off territory that is both dear and terrifying--it's very special. But reading this little treasure makes me want to hang out with her and see first-hand how her brain works and know more about how she sees the world. Some people are fascinating. The only other book of hers I've found I just ordered, and I'm convinced the love will only grow... :)

(If you're interested and don't have a comic book store near you, it's available for purchase here.)

***

In other news--I have finally taken a step I've wanted to do for awhile but needed to take the time to learn HOW and so yesterday--my day off--I spent the entire day learning how to and then building my official home site:

marycatherinegarrison.com

Whew!

I've only become computer-literate in the last 2 years or so, so this was challenging. And exhilerating. It felt so wonderful to cross that off my long-term list of things-to-do (and also weirdly egotistical to use my name). But after all--it's all me--and its always been my goal to have everything under one umbrella and now it is :) And I also feel like I have a bit of a new skill set which is fun!

(ps: that's the new working cover of what will be my new 'episodic-graphic-novel-comic-book'--is there such a thing?--starring someone you might recognize :)

And you probably already noticed but I gave ye olde blogge a much-needed facelift/sprucing-up. I was ready for something a little more subtle and streamlined and I think this does the trick. I also removed the music player I had over the the right. I figured it was a bad sign when it was getting on my own nerves :) The nice thing about these things, though, is that you can change them whenever you want and I definitely like that as an option! And--another giant thing crossed off the list! It's good to be productive sometimes...have a fabulous day!!

a girl in a suit

I've always loved women in menswear. I consistently mix bits of it in my wardrobe and always love seeing it on other girls. On Friday afternoon before the show, I had been working on a skirt that may or may not work--the jury's still out. I put it down out of frustration and remembering I had the left-over cream knit from this dress, I used the same pattern, chopped off the sleeves, got out my fabric paint and voila! 

   

(Outfit details here.)

I love it and now I want to make other versions--with a polka-dot bow-tie, perhaps...?

It (very vaguely) reminds me of this--one of my favorite pictures. In fact, I think I should just say it was vaguely inspired by it:

 

Happy Sunday! I'm off to do a matinee and then my weekend begins! For the first time in a long time, we have no plans and that feels wonderful...

carnival thingies

I just had to pop in and show you some of my new packaging ideas. I found these in Hey Yo-Yo's shop (a really fun shop, by the way) on Etsy and they arrived in the mail Monday. I don't think they're actually vintage, more vintage-inspired, but that's just fine with me. I love them and think they will be perfect packaging for some carnival-inspired sticker sets, smaller card sets, and even tiny dolls!

I was a part of a Under the Big Top Treasury on Etsy in which these old carnival tickets were for sale in Imagine Art 7's shop. There are lots of old carnival tickets on Etsy--and I'd like to buy them all for potential art projects, but these are particularly old and have the coolest design on the back:

My idea is to include these somehow with the next batch of circus/carnival-inspired dolls...in a way to be revealed soon :)

shmorgasborg (how do you spell that?)

Ah. I just looked it up: smorgasbord. Good to know. Especially since I have a couple of them over here at the moment. It's my day off and I'm so, so very happy to spend it doing what I wish I was paid to do: watching old movies and sewing.

I recently indulged myself and ordered the last two volumes of Forbidden Hollywood to complete my nerdy collection which I had been wanting since last year. It's not even that they're terribly expensive, it's just that they aren't a necessity. At least that's what I kept telling myself...until I caved. Right now I have Other Men's Women playing and Mary Astor is giving Grant Withers a haircut out in a bright, sunny yard. It's so delicious. And there's also a character named 'Peg-leg' and guess what: he has a wooden leg. A real, live wooden legged-person. I can't even get over it. As much as I enjoy the stories in these movies I think even more so it's what you get to see about their lives--the way the interior of the homes looked, the clothes, the nightlife (I really think seeing them drinking and dancing is my favorite part), the inside of a diner, the men all calling the women "sister"--I don't really know why but I can't get enough of it all. A man just offered to take a lady out for a chicken dinner. It's too strange and wonderful. I've also fallen head-over-heels for Joan Blondell. I want to see everything she's ever done immediately.

I also have these vintage patterns pulled out, ready to get started. Incidentally, you're seeing my system for keeping patterns organized: a color-copy of the pattern envelope taped to a manilla envelope, and all stored in cardboard magazine-holder-thingies. I think I read about this 'system' somewhere and it works great, should you be looking to keep your patterns safe and organized :)

In addition to the other two designs/ideas I had from this post (one of which is on hold due to frustration), I also have plans on working over those three into somewhat different versions of what you see here. Which brings the grand total of current sewing projects to FIVE. It feels slightly overwhelming, I will admit. What I really want to do is snap my fingers or wiggle my nose or whatever and have them all made instantly. Patience is not a virtue I possess. 

I think I best get to sewing. I feel quiet and happy and want to soak up every possible second of my lovely, rainy day off...hope your day is equally nice :)

creativity

(Photo credit)

I've been thinking a lot about creativity lately. And when I say lately, I mean in the last few years. And not just because I have a creative (most of the time) profession (acting). I came out of the womb wanting to make things. I have the clearest memory of being a kid and wanting--desperately--construction paper, scissors, tape, markers, crayons, glue--and everybody to leave me alone-- and I would lose myself for hours and hours and hours making something--anything--a thousand of them! As I got older, I stumbled rather randomly into acting but I always kept the other things up: I got my minor in oil painting, I learned to sew, I took a metals class, ceramics classes, etc, etc.

I've talked a little bit about my struggling emotions about the actual "business" part of what I do, my profound distaste for "proving myself", the political nature of what opportunities do and do not come one's way, the utterly appalling nature of judging and critiquing what was an artistic adventure causing us all to fret about people "liking" what we do--no one likes any of that stuff, I know I'm not original here. But despite all that universally yucky stuff, I do have a deep, profound respect for the act of making something. In any form. There are amazing actors in this play and every night (and twice on Wednesdays and Saturdays!) I get to watch human beings in the act of creating. That is a dramatic statement about what is a silly play, granted, but there is beautiful, real-time artistry going on up there. And I was telling my husband the other day that even though I do have career ambitions, with acting, writing, and my art, there is a deeply imbedded engine in me that is apparently unstoppable and propels me into my various creative processes over and over. Whether I like it or not, and whether I particularly want to or not, here I am doing it again. I'm terribly grateful for it. Terribly. Another dramatic statement: I think it's why I'm alive.

I got to thinking about it a lot because I did an interview in which we touched on this topic briefly (it's here and you'll forgive my unnecessary honesty in parts, I'm relatively new to this stuff and I also can't help myself) but then I remembered a talk by Elizabeth Gilbert (who wrote Eat, Pray, Love) on TED (one of my new favorite things) sent to me by a friend a while back. I remembered that it was on creativity and that I had been meaning to watch it and kept forgetting. I watched it today and if this is a topic that interests you, I highly recommend it (it's here). I found it very moving and it re-oriented my focus to a much more helpful perspective. It's 20 minutes or so and very worth the time if you are someone who is in any way engaged in the creative process. 

OK! Enough of all this serious talky stuff! I need to go pick out a cute outfit and then I'm off to the theater to make some more stuff! 

happiness via books

I am almost completely incapable of sitting and doing nothing. Unless I'm in Jamaica and doing my best impersonation of an oyster, of course--although even there I had my sketchbook and pencils out the whole time. I just feel best when I'm doing something that feels productive. Not necessarily important, but often something that crosses off one of the items on my mental "to-do" or "to-learn" lists. Is anybody else like this? Mr. Wood would love for me to just sit on the couch and watch a movie with him without 11 craft projects around me on the floor. I do try! And sometimes listening to a movie is just as interesting as watching one! But I'm afraid it's only getting worse...

One thing I looooooooooove is how-to books. There's a special place in my heart for non-fiction, and especially the ones where you learn a new skill. I've taught myself Photoshop, all kinds of new sewing techniques, digital camera stuff, plus all the cooking and baking, all using how-to books. Those two above are new ones that I'm currently devouring and loving.

The Vintage Hairstyling book I first heard about via Twyla and it's excellent. If you know nothing about hair--like me--she is so specific, and the step-by-steps are so clear. I bought it specifically to learn (once and for all, dang it) how to do finger waves. There are quite a few semi-helpful tutorials on YouTube that I've been perusing, but ultimately I'd rather somebody else do it for me :) I'm still looking forward to trying that as well as some of the later-period styles. You can get it here.

And Design-It-Yourself Clothes by Cal Patch is fabulous. It doesn't include patterns, but actually teaches you how to draft your own! It's a great start for beginners, and doesn't get too complicated. I also may have to get this at some point...

But right now I'm insanely, inappropriately excited about this. I've pre-ordered mine :)

code word: relaxation

Lucky me :) This is what we woke up to in Jamaica (can you hear those waves crashing?? All day, all night. Eden.). So, so, so, so beautiful. We had a wonderful vacation! It was 80 and breezy and gorgeous, even with the occasional rain-spritzing, for 5 glorious days. We did nothing (as promised) and it was very...disheartening...to come back to 16 degree weather in New York City. Oh boy. I'm working on a post about vacation fashion right now--because frankly I never really thought about it that much before. But I guess since exploring an online fashion life I've started thinking about fashion concepts and such lately...

BUT BEFORE I GET TO ALL THAT! I simply have to share with you an experience I had before we left for Jamaica. My sweet friend Ernestine told me about her good friend, Misa, who has completed her Ayurvedic training and has set up a practice here in Brooklyn. As a Curious Person and One Who Believes in Most All Ancient Healing Techniques--Ayurveda was something I had never tried. I'd heard a little about it, but first-hand experience had eluded me thus far. People--if you haven't experienced it--you simply must. When I first met Misa, right away I was struck by how open, pretty, kind and strong she was. I trusted her immediately. I can't think of better qualities in a person who does her kind of work. Not to mention she makes and blends all of her own oils and products and they smell divine. Truly. I wish religion smelled this good.

She offers different treatments, but the one she wanted to give me was the Ayurvedic Detox Facial. I adore facials. Frankly I love just laying there having things done to me, period. But facials are a giddy treat--especially given my actress' vanity :) But this was unlike any other facial I've ever had. Misa gave me a (very) brief explanation of Ayurveda and she got to work. Without going into too many specifics, it was 70 minutes (that felt like about 25), she worked on my feet, hands, shoulders, arms, scalp and face. And the best explanation I can muster of what was an incredibly beautiful experience for me--is that it was a spiritual healing that took place on my face. I came into her room with a certain amount of weary-making "baggage" (i.e. useless tension, thoughts, etc) and I left with such a joyful, positive heart. I practically floated back home and was filled with so much--the best word I can think of is--clarity. Just simple joy. Which I happen to think is the way we're meant to be--we just get distracted by life and such.

I am writing all this because if you live in New York--you need to know she's here! She's on Union and 6th Ave. (748 Union St.) in the Spoke the Hub building in Park Slope and her email is vediccare (at) yahoo.com and I can't say enough good things about her (as you can no doubt tell). I'm going back for the Shirodhara treatment which is supposed to inspire bliss--so excited! Ok. We're off to meet a friend for a cocktail so I'll be back tomorrow with more of life's little surprises... :)

some things making me happy...

This wonderful gift from my sweet mom for Christmas--a set of 100 markers. She knows me well! 

This outrageously wonderful outfit that I stole from one of your blogs but forgot to note which one! Who did I steal it from? Let me know so I can give you proper credit...but this is perfection. Head to toe. (UPDATE: Rachel was very sweet and reminded me that I found it off her blog here. Unfortunately she didn't note where she found it from, either, but it sure it cute! And thank you, Rachel :)

This dress from Anthropologie that will be mine. Even if I have to make it. It. Is. Mine. That ruffle and collar? Cupcake perfection.

New shoozies! These are the most perfect little ankle boot with a spat-like feature that just thrills me. 

Bessie Smith. I just purchased the complete recordings on iTunes and she has been my soundtrack the past few days as I piddle about in my craft room or walk around the city... I have an old vinyl LP that I love but record-playing is rather site-specific so I took the plunge and bought it. She's just incredible. Sultry and sexy and hilarious and just a powerhouse. I'm so comforted by the lack of "production" in music like this: it's just her in real time, with minimal accompaniment belting it out from way down deep. Magic.

• Also on my happy-making radar: This sweet tutorial from Poppytalk (if your name is Mr. Wood DO NOT LOOK AT THAT LINK!!) 
• This recipe is extremely exciting to me. Stay tuned for its debut in the Garrison/Wood household. 
• This silent movie which I just bought and warrants an entire post unto itself.
• AND! Thanks to all you lovely, smart ladies I learned that the style of champagne glass from my last post is actually referred to both as a "coupe" and a "saucer." I love learning new things! So thank you for your help! (Here is a helpful blog post about it--including the mythical "origins" of its provocative shape ;)