B&W

Fall Begins

Here are some random shots, some from recently but a couple from last Fall and the bottom one is a republish because I rediscovered it and it's one of my favorites that I've taken ever (Charlotte's modeling, kudos biddy).

New Sketchbook

Spider-Man Ladies and Rants

Dearest Sarah,

Yesterday my day was spent eating alone and reading 60 whatever-year-old Spider-Man comics so ya-know it was productive. And as much as I love the rip roaring fights between Peter Parker and Doctor Octopus I always enjoy reading the tragic love stories that take place in each issue more. WHY CAN'T YOU JUST LOVE AND ACCEPT HIM AS THE MASKED HERO HE IS BETTY? There are significantly less female roles in the comic but the ones that do exist are always well dressed and inspired me to draw some fabulous-fifties attire with a twist:

On the left is basically a classic dress that's seen a lot throughout the series, although it primarily worn in black so I FUNKIFIED IT UP BITCHES(plus she has blue hair which made the outfit a lot cooler than it would have been) and if you will kindly move your gaze over to the right you will see the shape of a regular dress of that era with a hood (Ooo) and some strange design I put down the front.

ALRIGHTY. So with the outfit on the left I basically copied a look out of Spider-Man but than I changed the top so it looked more Asian-y which I liked. On the last one, I took the top of a striped dress and made it a crop-top(how does she do it?) and then gave the little lady lovely high-waisted mom-jeans. Classy! 

Side Note: Excuse the broad shoulders on the orange-shirt girl. She has an unfortunate birth defect.

Now I will fully understand if you cease to continue reading as you scroll down to my upcoming rant but I am going to get it out of my system.

FAIR WARNING WAS GIVEN:

So as I was reading one of your recent posts Sarah,(I loved them by the way!) I came across a reference of yours to Us Magazine's "Fashion Police". Now I am in no way denying the fact that I've read the magazine before. I can't lie and say I don't enjoy reading 99% false celebrity gossip on occasion. HOWEVER, the article "Fashion Police" reeeeaaalllllly gets to me. If you're better than me and have escaped the lure of Us, than I'll explain. Basically the last two pages of the magazine are dedicated to 10+ images on celebrities apparently caught in the act of fashion "blunders" and then a panel of 15 or whatever "comedians" degrade and mock them. Lovely!

I often view Hollywood as a producer of cookie-cutter celebrities. This isn't the fault of the actors, actresses etc. but of society for dictating what is acceptable and what is not, and without society actors jobs would no longer exist. So, in effect they're forced to conform to the strict ideals presented to them . As a result, seeing celebrities featured in "Fashion Police" drives me crazy. These are people who have decided to be brave and think outside the box in a world that tries to stifle creativity. Yet instead of being praised for their fashion intelligence or daring choices they're ridiculed. Often the celebrities that end up in this article are the likes of Anna Wintour, Elle Fanning etc. Each of these ladies have such amazing style and independence. Anna Wintour is literally the face of fashion and in so many circles, the newest fashions are drawn from what she has decided. Elle Fanning, is years beyond her age and I'm literally obsessed with her. She's not only a minor being attacked through paparazzi but one of the most individualistic people in Hollywood at only fourteen. 

I wrote a while back to the magazine complaining about the article. I wasn't expecting to get a response  because I probably sounded like a psychotic bitch raving about the faults in today's society but it kind of felt good anyway. To rap this little diddy up, I get it if you like reading the magazine or others like it. I really do. Just maybe next time look over they articles similar to "Fashion Police"(dumb name by the way) and maybe kind of get what I'm talking about. OK SO I'M DONE NOW. You can breathe a sigh of relief. I'll go quietly back to my spider-man now and weep to myself.

(To be honest I really like this look so boo to you Us)

XOXO-

Char

Dear Charlotte,
Wow, I actually hate you. How come I don't get to take part in a major fashion show? Jeezlouise, you lead a blessed life woman.
I don't know if we have talked about this before, but I was thinking the other day how much knowledge I actually get from Tumblr. It's so far superior to facebook because A. people are actually honest about their emotions and don't give off the "happy effect" that facebookers give off (the one where they seem like they're having waaay more fun then they actually are) and B.Tumblr is all about sharing cool things, rather than giving way to unhealthy stalking (which I am all too familiar with..)
The point of this rant is that on Tumblr a month or so ago, I came across a quote that said "When you take a little bit from everywhere else, it makes a place feel just like home." For some reason this has stayed with me ever since I first saw it, perhaps because it was one of those statements that makes an abstract idea seem simple and substantial. I love the idea of having objects that once belonged to someone else or came from far away in my house. Not just necessary things, like furniture, but little knickknacks and chachkies that have been accumulated over years.
I like the idea of having something that had a whole life before me and a history that I don't even know about.
As I'm sure you've guessed, I'm not exactly a big-time Minimalist. My house is full of random found objects and mismatched old furniture. The other day I got home and found the kitchen bookshelf completely cleaned out (apparently my mother wanted to do some mid-winter cleaning). Walking in, it felt completely wrong so I set about putting all the little "Guys" as my mom calls them, back on their shelf (hence the photo above). I can't wait to make my own collection of "Guys" and stuff from "every where else" to form my own home. Woo to a Small Appartments in New York City!!!!!!
I miss you muchly,
LOVE,
Sarah

HELLO HELLO
I am just writing to say ksdflkjsd;akj you are so lucky and that I cannot wait to hear all about some great African fashion. Sweet jesus you lead a blessed life. Especially since I know for a fact they wanted to cast you as a model AND have you be an assistant. How could they resist your charms? (;;;
The above is some random stuff I've made in art over the last month or so.
BYE BYE BIRDIE,
Sarah

Dear Sarah,
As you know I'm in Africa. Ehh that's really weird to say even though I have been for a few weeks now. Sorry for not posting sooner but everything seems to be moving so quickly right now and I'm just standing around like:

But things finally seem to be finding a somewhat steady pace leaving time to just enjoy the fact that I am here, getting this experience in the first place. 

BUT ABOUT THE CLOTHES:

-yes my school has a uniform.

-yes I look like a man.

The uniform isn't exactly a typical one in the way that here students are allowed to wear what they want as long as their clothes fall into the guidelines of what has been set (much different from all the other schools here, private and public *gasp* THE HORROR) ie. white collared shirt and black pants(nothing tight or revealing) which leaves somewhat little to the imagination. As I got ready for school yesterday (the first day) I looked into the mirror; I won't lie and tell  you I enjoyed the sight of myself in black slacks and a boys polo from Patagonia, but when in Rome...

I'm going to have to find some time where I can model or display some the beautiful clothes here since I'm not able to wear them on a regular basis. I love how totally different fashion is in Botswana and I can't wait to check out what their couture lines look like. 

So here's a little taste of the culture here with a dress my dear mother bought recently to wear around as she has now been abandoned by her children for the sake of their education:

SO LONG AND FARTHEEWELL I'm sure I'll be posting soon<3

P.S: In reply to your latest post on tattoos I think I've always wanted one but I've never known what I've wanted to get/where I've wanted to get it on ma bod. Although as of late my letters to Mr. McCartney have been sent and hopefully someday I'll be getting a tattoo of his autograph. Writing that down sounds totally lame but I WANT ITTT I WANT IT SO BAAAD(getitgetit? heheh lyrics...get it...no...ok peace.)

Tattoos

Dear Charlotte,
First of all, you're in Botswana. HOW can this be?! I find it hard to believe you are actually there in Africa, especially because we're communicating via email so often. It seems like in actuality you're just at home pretending to be in Africa as this elaborate prank on me. You'll show up at school one day and be like, "You actually BELIEVED me?! HAH you're dumb!" and then life will continue on.
Now to focus on the topic at hand: tattoos. We have discussed them often recently and I was just thinking how my view on them has changed over the years. When I was younger I thought they were the trashiest most idiotic things, especially when I'd hear stories about a girl getting her boyfriend's name tattooed on her ass, only to break up with him the following week.
But now, I'm pretty sure when I turn 18 I want one. It would have to be simple, classy, small, and in the vicinity of my wrist or ankle, so as not to get creepy and wrinkly when I get old. The main reason I want one is as a reminder of something. Maybe a simple command like "Listen" really small on my right wrist, or the sign for "infinite" which has a lot of meaning for me, thanks to The Perks of Being a Wallflower. We've even talked about each of us making a drawing to have done when we're eighteen. Personally I'm all for it.
In the back of my mind I do sort of wonder if I just want one because I think girls with tattoos on tumblr look really cool with them. I mean if I'm being honest appearance does have a teeeeny bit to do with my want for a tattoo, but really it mostly has to do with wanting to have a reminder of a good thing.
Apparently bodies have been found dating back up to 5,000 years ago that are tattooed which I think is pretty intriguing. That means that humans almost have an instinct to brand symbols on themselves. I guess it's all just part of a battle to give our lives meaning.
The utter permanence of it does freak me out though.
Have you always been cool with tattoos or is it only recently? How did you used to think of them? Can you picture yourself as a cool old cat lady with a bunch of tats? (< kinda how I picture myself in the future HAWW)
I'LL BE SEEING YOU (except not because you're in Botswana, WAHH),
Sarah

Earrings and Goodbye(for a day or two)

HEY
So this wonderfully attractive picture of me aside, can we all just take a moment to bask in the glory of these earrings? I know you have them as well Sarah so this is for the masses. LOOK. BEHOLD. Snape's beautiful face shines down upon us all. I'm so happy I have friends like you, Clare and Emma that enjoy making creepy jewelry like this as much as I do.

Okay so ignore the strange glow emitting from my chin and my deathlike stare as I tried to center the camera...and focus on these earrings people! My grandmother got them in Venice this past year and gave them to me for Christ-anukkah(has a nice ring dontcha think...) Due to the lack of clarity in my crappy webcam the picture doesn't really do them justice. The large bottom part is multicolored painted glass and the top are hand made clear glass beads. PERTTTTYY. I'm on this thing where I really like dangly bigger earrings again(bringing back my 2nd grade fascination...)

This is going to be my last post in the good ol' U.S of A, as I leave for Africa tomorrow! So fare thee well and I'll post again soon! 

 LERV CHAR

p.s: Can I just get a round of applause for Clare's amazing musical tribute post? I kinda want to start with more guest writers, it's fun. Whaddya think?

Ok by ferrealz this time.

JOURNALS

BONJOUR-
Okay, so I procrastinate a lot and its something I'm trying to control. Without much luck however as I'm only just now responding to your post about keeping a journal...Like you, I've tried over the years to document my life in the usual ways through diaries(journals, diaries whatevah) and I've always failed. I think the longest I have been able to continue with one has been about three days. Maybe this comes back to this whole procrastination thing but I don't really feel like becoming introspective and fixing my problems so we'll just leave it at that. I did however save all my of sad attempts as becoming the iconic diary-writing, make-up-wearing girl that I wanted to be. Looking through them now I've realized I had a strange affinity for drawing hands and pictures of myself in later years(maybe everyone did this). Writing was usually secondary to my sketches, probably since I'm a lazy sea lion and writing out my day quickly got tedious...

SAYONARA MY GOOD FRIEND

--Charlotte

Keeping a Journal

Dear Charlotte,
Halfway through my frustratingly repetitive and unhelpful English homework, I started thinking about what I'd actually enjoy doing in the class. One thing that came to mind was keeping a journal. From about 4th grade onward I have tried and failed at keeping a permanent record of my thoughts and experiences. I've only had 2 that lasted longer then a month-one that took up most of my eighth grade year and another that I started writing last year. Part of the problem, I think, is that actually recording what happened today or talking about whatever guy I like at the moment seems pretty trivial and kind of boring because I know in the scheme of things, none of that matters. However, I like the idea of putting down on paper whatever personal feelings and questions run through my head and have them immortalized on paper, even if later I will look back and be embarrassed at my own ignorance/stupidity/I-think-I'm-so-deepness. I guess keeping a journal in English class would kind of actually suck though, because I wouldn't be writing what I am really thinking/feeling for fear of Mr. Dowling reading it. It would force me to confront myself and actually ask myself questions though. What do you think? Have you ever kept a journal? LET ME KNOW SISTAH,
love ya,
Sarah

Dear Sarah-

I'm slightly terrified of putting this video up on the blog, but here we go...

Backstory: Sarah, Clare and Charlotte had too much time on their hands one fine afternoon and decided to create this superb music video to the song "What If God Was One Of Us"

..that's all I'm going to say..

(After this can we please go back to fashion posts...)

LOVE-

Cha Cha Chooo

Fall

Dear Charlotte,
The season of Fall is perhaps my favorite one. I say "perhaps" because when I get to thinking about Fall it gets me thinking about winter which gets me thinking about its polar opposite Summer, which gets me thinking maybe Fall isn't my favorite season. ("What about Spring?" you may ask. Spring is my birthday season! But for some reason it's still my least favorite season.) HOWEVER, the point of this post/letter/whatever it is, is to tell you about Fall. I love Fall because I love the clothes. Chunky sweaters, black tights, mittens (In Maine mittens are necessary as early as Fall), L.L. Bean boots, long socks, hats, and layer upon layer upon layer--you can wear everything at once! I love Fall because it becomes legitimate to pile blankets on the bed and sleep in a cocoon and because drinking apple cider is much more common in Fall than in any other season. And finally I love Fall because somehow music sounds better and deeper when it starts to get cold and my photographs come out with Fall's light upon them. Every aspect of my day-to-day life is somehow affected by the feel of Fall and it seems everything is a little more meaningful. Maybe I'm just going crazy!
FARETHEEWELL,
Sarah