BUST Magazine 2008 Spring Fling Craftacular

The BUST Craftacular at the Warsaw (Brooklyn) today was incredibly crowded. Four rows of vendors squished together on the concert floor, while DJ's spun 90s prom music on stage.

After the invent and explosion of Etsy.com, I felt that merch was mediocre. Sure every booth had their own customized "look", complete with business cards collected and traded, but the work was just so generic. ESPECIALLY the jewelry!! Small gold vintage-looking chains and the usual charms (sparrows, skeleton keys, fawn, octopi) littered the tables of every other booth. Maybe it's because I've spent a good deal of internet time browsing Etsy that I've seen it all. I was just surprised that there was little variation in accessories. But at least the perspex pendants (although slowly being overdone) were cleanly cut, and there was ONE metalsmith jeweler. (SAVED!)

And then comes the clothing—have we all forgotten that fabrics are supposed to feel comfortable and soft to the skin? Or that reasonably priced cotton garments are supposed to last more than one wash? What's with all the hard "VINTAGE/RECYCLED" fabrics and flimsy raw-hem, worn out t-shirts? AND isn't everyone OVER the whole center chest silk-screened generic monster/cute fruit/squid/octopus/dinosaur t-shirts? It's so last last last year.

ANYWAYS—

1. The organization was stellar and the staff was very nice.
   
2. I did eventually purchase good finds at the -tacular (after my fourth walk around the booths), and around the neighborhood.
   
3. Yes, I overused "generic".
   

Yummy soaps from Biggs & Featherbelle.


SEIBEI!! Where my dogs and monsters at? (Yeah, I know, I just ranted about monsters, but this is not one of them stupid ones.)


I bought a year's subscription for $10. And they gave me a free


DOE tote.


I bought these fibers at The Yarn Tree. Hello new favorite shop.


This is why I think "Blech..." when I think of Williamsburg. A performing street circus. What? I know.


And my favorite Polish chocolates.

Tax Return 2008

Hallelujah!!

Getting back money that belongs to me!!

Wafting Fried Foods at Work

I work at a glass studio in a very busy commercial area of Midtown. The studio is very chill, and we have a great view of the city (MSG is right outside).

So every morning, around 11 a.m., this THING happens where a thick wave of grease drifts into the studio from the street level fast food restaurants. It's this incredibly thick smell that just screams "4 CHICKEN WINGS WITH FRIED RICE, FRIED HARD!!". I think about the cooks at Fay Da Bakery greasing it up for the Chinese food buffet lunch and Wendy's fries getting soggy crisp in their nasty deep fryers. And then I get mad hungry.

I wonder how every one in the studio feels about this...

Montreal +/- Pictures

I wanted to make a slideshow, but Blair (my laptop) is a bit slow. Enjoy! Totally random order.

Conrad and Jesse's apartment.


Would you like more tea?


Montreal triplexes=color.


Caption reads: "Montreal--Wish You Were Here!"
Nothing like a St. Patrick's Day special with cold beers in paper bags.


Waiting for the train.


My birthday dinner--Vegan BLT. Coconut bacon, who knew?


Usine106 Gallery/Artist Space.


YUM CHA!! Tea squirrels.


Brick oven bagels at St. Viateur Bagels.


SNOW STORM.


OLD SCHOOL. This is how you occupy yourself on snow days.


Sarah and I walked across this random and creepy bridge.


Sarah with Conrad's nephew, Angelo.


Ray and me at a New Year's dinner.


Hey, look there!


Sarah's cat, Orangello. He's a very popular outdoor cat on a leash. Super cute.


Atop Mont Royal.


The master Mark Matthews and his careful apprentice. (A reverse chevron marble--it's WAY harder than it looks. You have to use muscles you never thought you had.)


Maple candy! They usually have this up north, but it was a goodies stand for Nuit Blanche (3-day, all-night Winter Festival).


Super. Cute.


Last meal in Montreal--vegetarian Indian food!! YUM!!


The hot shop at Espace Verre.


The coolest low-key hipster lounge/bar ever. Their open mic was the worst one I've ever experienced. But isn't that a good thing?


Beautiful sculpture at Montreal Museum of Fine Art.


Art at Nuit Blanche.


Espace Verre. It's in an old fire station.


Mark Matthew's last marble set. Check out the Duro White!!


De la Commune street.


Jesse (Conrad's roommate) a.k.a. Ultimate 90s Guy.


Conrad's dad showing me a slideshow of his work. (He's a professional traditional Polish dancer and instructor.)

Bad Awakenings

My lastest dreams have been very confusing. More past friends and acquaintances are showing up to play obscure characters in the dreams. When I wake up from them, I feel very shocked and vulnerable. I wish I could remember the dream sequences, but that would just freak me out even more. It feels as if I can't shake off the feelings the dreams give me on a subconscious level.

I feel very lost.