Day Trip in Sedona

I do love doing what I do.  I just got back from Sedona and I want to tell you all about it.  Go get a Coke with ice and some of those chili cheese Fritos because I have a ton of photos.

I listened to Israel Kamakawiw 'Ole the entire up and back journey.  When I snapped this, Somewhere Over the Rainbow was playing.  Isreal sounds like Al Jarreau with a ukelalie. This helped when I was white knuckling it through the clouds.

Just before you see the Red Rock of Sedona. Looks like this.

The "Oh Wow" didn't really work this time because of the cloudage.

Home of the alien lovers. I am not kidding.

Here is Sedona married to T.C. Schnebly in 1897.  Photo from Images of America, Sedona.  Yes, I am a nerd.

First stop was at Enchantment Resort, Mii amo Spa.  Checking up on the signature SAM HARVEY bags at the boutique.  Had a wonderful meeting with Kelly Dunagan Johnson.  She wants SAM HARVEY orange leather clutches for mii amo!

This is me waiting in the wings before the meeting.

The rock walls were shimmering with rain water shedding off in all different red rock grooves.

This is the same rock but just towards the end of last summer.  See how I did that. Pretty shlick aye!

This shot can only be taken hiking through Boyton Canyon. Which I did several months ago. This resort is secretly hidden in this amazing Red Rock canyon.

Are you feeling the love yet? On the trail.

Highway A89 on my way to Hummingbird House.  Been visiting Sedona since 1986 and never heard of the place.  Mary Garland told me to go. 

The Coca-Cola photo in the beginning is the Hummingbird House.  It was closed due to flooding so I went to the shops at Hyatt where they temporarily relocated.  Perfect place for SAM HARVEY bags. I want to do a humming bird bag.  Yes, I am all over the place.  Like a hummingbird.

Even the barbed wire is red.  Now you can sleep tonight.

This is where I had lunch. I wanted a local place with healthy food that I would not fix at home.

Did I mention you can get your aura reading, find vortexes and eat some awesome vegan food in Sedona?

ChocolaTree Live Organic Vegatarian Eatery.  Lunch was awesome.

Where else can you get crystal, candle and fresh flowers at your table for lunch?

I bought one of each.  I did save some for you.

I didn't forget kokopelli...

She's Crafty, and She's Just My Type

That is me leaving the temple after I found Jin and the others. I reversed the black smoke and helped Jack find his true purpose.   My dilusional appearance on LOST.  Really now duckies!  The photo above is from View Textile Journal.  I am summoning Army Green, Hurt Locker and fragile textures mixed with rugged edges.

One word: Adventurer.  I love the white next to the Army Green. That is on fire if you ask me!  Yesterday it rained all day so I sewed like all day long.  Yes, even in my spare time, I sew. I cannot turn it off. Ever.  I hit the ground running Sunday morning.  I didn't have a clue what I was going to do.  I wanted something weird, cool and different. I wanted something artful like what I saw at Barneys on Friday.  If I could have brought

the camera into Barneys, you know I would have.

This is what I touched and held at Barneys last Friday accept in a green that looked like my old drafting board table cover kind of puky greenish but in a "i could learn to love this" kind of way. This is Alexander Wang.  The strap is made of these slinky metal chains.  I am so inspired!  The Lanvin bags were gorgeous too.  Oh yeah, back to hitting the ground running.

I went round and round with ideas, then I spotted some Army Green out of the corner of my Army Green eye. Jeffrey left his Old Navy pants with a million pockets in my work room. This meant, do what you want with them.  Check out what I did!

This was one of those "looked easier on paper projects".  I made a pencil skirt with Army Green cut outs.  I love the mix of militant meets fragile. It really works!

She's crafty, and she's just my type. Who sang that? 

I actually made this entire outfit in the course of one day! With lining might I add.  I whipped out the tee while watching the Academy Awards. I must say Robert Downey Jr. looked square and cute in his blue blow tie and blue tinted shades.  The jacket is real Army surplus.  Yes, the one I bought from Uncle Sam's in New York.  I know, I know I said I ordered the vest but this is what they sent. I called them up and and I'm like what is the deal with the coat, "What happened to my vest?" They were like "Ehhhhh buttaphuko  - Yo, you just cut da sleeves capich - Ehhhh!"  I can't cut the sleeves off.  I don't know. What do you think?   The skirt could be shorter. I am so modest.

I want to find more Army surplus stuff.  I am close to Luke Airforce Base. You can't see the detail I know.  The top photo I love. I want that Army tee with the hole in it and the bullet belt.  Semper Fi dudes!    More good news keeps flowing. I opened the box that arrived today to see my darling hardware prototypes for the toggle and grommet. They say SAM HARVEY!  I also bought some orange leather today. It is so Hermes! It is gorgeous! Now I am going to make a clutchy out of leather.  I will be in Sedona tomorrow to see my friend Kelly at Mii amo. I will pick up a kokopelli key chain for you.

I'M SO HYPER NOW

Hi friend! I have to write or I don't think I will be able to sleep tonight.   It was an interesting day.  Let's just say that I went beyond fullfilling my 3 vital factors for today.  First of all I had to leave the house before sunrise to get to Executive Forums for an all member meeting to hear Jack Stack author, mega watt entepreneur speak about putting open book systems into place for your business and employees to really kick ass in business. 

Let's back up.  The blue metallic clutch above I finished yesterday so I could have it to show to potential buyers today.  This was kind of spur of the moment.  I was thinking what else will I do with my time after the all member meeting until 6:30pm for dinner with my family in Phoenix?

I forced myself to get out there and show at least 2 spa buyers this new clutch. I totally did not want to do it.  I thought, I could go to a museum or read a book. Then I thought, what will that net me?!  Feeling even worse...  I SAID TO MYSELF - GET OUT AND DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO! NOW!

Oh, by the way, that is the interior.  Yeah.  First stop was The Phoenician.  Mind you, I did not set up any appointments with these buyers. I just showed up.  I thought to myself, just pretend that I am really a wealthy wasp and I just do this for fun.  I really don't need the money. Just going to ask them how they like the clutch. Honest feedback was today's objective.  The buyer for Phoenician wasn't there. I went to my car and felt really stupid, so I called Sherrie to say hi, just hearing her voice made me feel better. I have a new cell phone that I couldn't even find phone numbers for my buyers which made it even crazier!

I went to Sanctuary Spa to talk to Robert Vance.  He is a really cool guy.  He was there in the beginning when I started with the quilted signature bags.  He was there at ISPA when Jeffrey and I launched Minnie Jeanne with our do it yourself booth.  When I arrived at the boutique, the ladies were like "Oh Robert is too busy...don't know where he is." I was feeling like looser again.  I decided to just leave a card.  As I was heading out, I ran right into Robert!

Long story short, Robert says he is inviting me to a Sanctuary Trunk Show in April!  I went to my car with chills.  See how this is turning out! Then I drove to Joya Spa to meet Abbey. I had not met her face to face before.  I sat down with her and showed her the clutches and next thing I know, she had invited SAM HARVEY to Joya Spa trunk show in April. 

My last stop was W Hotel Scottsdale.  It was here that I was inspired to do something edgy and sexy in the first place.  Carlena took one look at the blue clutch and I knew I had met the mark. It was pure magic. We did the happy dance together in the boutique.  She is really excited about it!  She suggested getting the zipper brass color to match the chain and use a magnet instead of a snap to close it.  It felt so good to hear her say that it will work for the W! 

 

Actually, I had some time to kill before going to the W so I went into the Barney's.  I had not been in here before.  That could be a whole other post. I will save my inspirations for another time.  There, I feel better that I told you what happened.  It probably doesn't help that I went to Teavana before going to Shabbat to have an extra strong tea to celebrate.  Did I mention that I bumped into a woman who works in the Aviation Dept for the City of Pheonix at Teavana. At that point in the day, I was so full of myself, I could have sold a dirty diaper.  Anyway, this lady wants me to open up a SAM HARVEY at Sky Harbor.  Yes, that's what happens when I tell them to MAKE ME A BLACK TEA LIKE YOU MEAN IT!

Metallic Blue in My Cupboard

Hi Duckie!  My new fixation is blue and gold OK. Done. Goodnight.

Ohhh, so you want to know what inspired me?  Well since my tummy is totally bloated from one too many tacos tonight, I will spill the blue.  This is going to be a good one tonight you know!

There should be a color wheel here but honestly, I have scanned enough so just look it up! Just trust me that blue is on the opposite side of the wheel from yellow.  Yellow and blue are almost complementary colors.  Well maybe it is orange but yellow is righ next door. Ok. I just ordered like hundreds of dollars worth of blue metallic vinyl so these decisions can be important you know!

This vinyl is so much prettier in person. It is a murky blue with a black undertone. This shade is totally hot right now!  Like it's too late to justify it right!

Alexander McQueen Spring 2010 Collection.  This is what I am talking about here.  For those that don't know McQueen, look him up on http://www.style.com/ to learn more.  He just killed himself about 3 weeks ago on the Thursday of the beginning of Fashion week. What a statement huh?  It is crazy that he is gone because everyone is going fu man chu over his creative mind! I don't get it? And here I am.

I just watched Coraline again with the family last week. Great job Burton! I love Coraline's blue hair and gold rain coat.  This combination sizzles!  The clutch body will be blue metallic and the chain is brass.  Oh breath deeply! I know! Crazy good... like this!  Look below!

Hey, if you wake up tomorrow and think, hmmm "I wonder what I should do today?".  Just buy some of these and send them to me. I will know you really love me then.  Don't even try to substitute with brands or any funny business like that. It has to be this.

First I started eating a few every time I went to Mom's pantry. She found out. Last weekend I came over and Mom handed me my own bag.  My bag is getting low. It takes about 25 to satisfy me for the day. They are a cross between dried cranberries... You know what, I am just going to stop now. There is nothing that compares. It is just sweet and sour perfection. Where was I. Oh yeah. Clutchies.

Blue represents an association to the blue sky and oreos which are a constant in our lives. These things will never go away. We count on the sky being blue everyday.  This is why so many banks and institutions and men use blue to tell everyone "Hey, I am going to be here for you, eternally.".

Blue Footed Boobies.  Curtesy of Eva's Ranger Rick subscription. Never know where I will find inspiration.

Still using my blue paper cup from Ritz Carlton Dove Mountain.

When Dr. Seuss mixes blue with lots of black scribble it does look murky and mysterious. What do you think? When is the last time you read a Dr. S book?

Here are the pieces for the 4 clutches that Janet and I are going to assemble for tomorrow.  Like the logos that I sewed on today? I am really stoked for tomorrow.  Janet is really talented and skilled.  She teaches others how to sew, so I am sure she will have some improvements from where I stand with my patterns. I will keep you posted my friend!  Let's end with a quote shall we?

So...be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea, you're off to Great Places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So...get on your way!

Oh, the Places You'll Go! - Dr. Seuss

Riding the Pop Cycle

Finding the Monster Booty arm bands was the highlight of my Tucson road trip last Friday.

This is me walking around trying to find the armbands and feeling out of place with my working girl polished look.  This guy on the left with the white tee had a rip in his rear denim pocket that showed his hairy ass. I tried to capture it but didn't want to be too obvious.  My first stop was this Hippie Gypsy store. It was soaked with incense, bo, kind of sagy hyponitic air stagnation. I pretended like I was really looking at there macrame necklaces. I was itching to just jump in my car and head home.  I was like, what in the hell am I doing here?  I found myself asking this happy girl who probably changed her name to Govinda Jai,  "I must find arm bands with felt sculls, you know what I am talking about?". Well, she did.

This is Pop Cycle, a wonderful boutique owned by Jennifer Radler.  Everything sold here is made from recycle materials!  For instance, Jennifer will buy some lightly worn cowboy shirts from Salvation Army which is a couple doors down, and sew the monsters on to give it a new look.

I quickly traded the Jackie O look for this cowboy top with the monsters sewn on for a sweet $28 bucks.

I bought 2 arm bands for the girls. It was a hard choice.  Even the bands are taken from old back packs, vintage buttons, even the felt is a recycled material.  I like the zig zag stitching that Jennifer uses, makes the monsters look feisty and cranky.

I bought Jeffrey the lamp made out of recycle cans.  If you stop by this place you need to give yourself time for the store to reveal itself to you.

The gifts were wrapped in used bingo card sheets and an old map. Clever huh?

Hydroponics next door. Why don't they just say "We will help you grow your own weed."  Out with it already!

This is my very strong iced tea I bought across the street at Sabine's Cafe Passe'. I liked this gun shot outdoor patio. 

Everything on 4th Avenue is re-used, re-potted,  rolled up and smoked. Geeeez. The Ritz Carlton and hairy butt street walkers all in one day!

Pop Cycle, 422 North 4th Avenue, Tucson, Arizona 85705. http://www.popcycleshop.com/.