I just realized that I've never posted a link to my Etsy here in the magical world of wizardry and wonderment. I don't have nearly as much as I'd like right now. I still have the movie business and a regular job *pukes*. But now that we're settled into our apartment in Old Towne Pasadena, I should have more freedom for ma' jew-ray!
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
Devo and Xuxa.
I saw Devo. That's right. And it was glorious. Indescribable. Magic.
I might also add that I recently acquired a dvd of miscellaneous episodes of Xuxa. Yes, Xuxa, the vixenous children's show hostess. How I loved her. It was a pocket of my childhood I remember well. I was seven years old, it was at the peak of kid's variety shows like "What Would You Do?" and "Wild and Crazy Kids". This show is obviously a cash in on both, the success of such shows and an American vehicle for the Brazilian sensation, Xuxa. I remember colors, shoulder pads, hot pants, dancing, singing, animals, kids having fun...
Then I watched it now.
It's so terrible. Her english is so atrocious, she has no idea what's going on. The jokes aren't funny, the music's pretty lame. It's really just an awful show. Does this mean I dislike Xuxa now? Of course not. Her memory will live in my heart forever, and apart of me wonders if that's where she should have stayed. Thankfully, no matter how sucky the show might have been, there will always be this...
I might also add that I recently acquired a dvd of miscellaneous episodes of Xuxa. Yes, Xuxa, the vixenous children's show hostess. How I loved her. It was a pocket of my childhood I remember well. I was seven years old, it was at the peak of kid's variety shows like "What Would You Do?" and "Wild and Crazy Kids". This show is obviously a cash in on both, the success of such shows and an American vehicle for the Brazilian sensation, Xuxa. I remember colors, shoulder pads, hot pants, dancing, singing, animals, kids having fun...
Then I watched it now.
It's so terrible. Her english is so atrocious, she has no idea what's going on. The jokes aren't funny, the music's pretty lame. It's really just an awful show. Does this mean I dislike Xuxa now? Of course not. Her memory will live in my heart forever, and apart of me wonders if that's where she should have stayed. Thankfully, no matter how sucky the show might have been, there will always be this...
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Patina Love
I think I figured out a patina solution from household products that doesn't suck. I've tried sooo many different things, with little to no avail. The only patina that remotely worked for me was an expensive store bought chemical treatment from Michaels. It's about $7 for a small bottle. Sure, it works pretty well, but goes super fast. I knew I could save a shitload of money if I could just learn this magical alchemy that so many crafters have conquered.
What HASN'T worked for me? Vinegar. I dont get it. I've tried a dozen different vinegar methods without so much as a tint. If anything it made my brass look brighter and shinier since it's a natural cleaner. Woo hoo, so there you go. If you want to do the OPPOSITE of patina, try vinegar.
The first thing you need to do is clean your pieces. I use dish soap and a toothbrush (or vinegar, whatevs). You gotta get all the oils and factory dirt off. Rinse, pat them dry with a paper towel and set them aside. In a well venhilated area set up your ammonia station. Take a container with a lid (Tupperware is fine but don't use it for storing food after doing this, duh!) and fill it a couple of inches with household ammonia, I used clear but as far as I know it doesn't matter what kind you use. Cut a piece of wire and string your findings so they're hanging ABOVE the ammonia, not touching it. If it touches it, the affected area will turn black. You may decide later that you want that but if you want an even color make sure it doesn't touch.
Snap the lid on so the wire is sticking out on both ends holding the pieces in place. I haven't taken pictures of myself doing this but I did a search and found someone elses (beadfx.blogspot.com) to give you a visual.
The original article I read on this said that leaving it overnight was plenty of time. For good measure I gave it a full 24 hours. I noticed definite oxidation. The brass had a greenish white film over it and the copper was significantly darker. Come to find out it can take up to 10 days to get the full effect of "ammonia fuming", so I was misinformed and jumped the gun a bit.
I decided to mix up a few other tricks and methods on those same pieces while I waited on the next batch (since I have such a long wait)...
First, give them an ammonia/salt water bath. Heat water up just before the boiling point and pour it in a small bowl with 3 or 4 tablespoons of salt. With craft tweezers alternate the pieces between the ammonia and the hot salt water. Back and Forth (forever, jk) I did this about 5 times. The heat, then the chemical is supposed to make the metal more willing to accept color. With the ammonia being the last one, lay the pieces out on a paper towel. Before they dry sprinkle salt, dried cilantro and the secret ingredient, a drop of Mrs. Stewart's Liquid Bluing on the pieces. Let them sit for at least 3 hours, or overnight. Lightly brush of the excess and you'll have a beautiful rustic patinaed piece. Spray it with a clear matte coating to ensure the durability of the colors.
All of these ingredients I bought at the dollar store with the exception of Mrs. Stewarts Liquid Bluing. I got that at the grocery store for a few bucks. I had no luck finding it when I lived in Florida so if you have this same problem try using blue food coloring. I haven't tried it myself but based on the consistancy of Mrs. Stewarts (basically just a blue dye) I have a feeling it would work. Now I'm curious about other dyes and colors that may work as a substitute. Maybe using yellow Rite dye would make the object a brighter green? Also, why stick to just cilantro? Any dried green herb spice should work. I wonder what metal would look like with pepper sprinkled on it along with salt? Experiment is the mother of invention so once you master the oxidation part, play around with the colorization aspects. The possibilities are limitless!
and just to brag, here's my newest toy I got at the Pasadena Bead and Design show...
Gilders Paste! The amazing wax based product that covers metal, glass, plastic, wood, leather even upholtrsy! It's the funnest stuff ever, I got this color....
Doesn't have the charm of natural patina but it's still a lovely green and I know I'm going to have a blast with it!
~ ~ ~ EDIT! EDIT! EDIT! ~ ~ ~
Ok, so after putting this technique to practice for a more substancial period of time I decide to report back on the results. After four days of fuming multiple pieces of both brass and copper, here are the results...
They turned out more of a blue than green! I'm happy about this because I always thought blue patina would be hard to achieve. I'm wondering if the fact that I put so many pieces in one container effected the color. One clue to let you know that the pieces are about ready is the color of the ammonia. If you start with clear ammonia then after the 3rd day it should start to have a bluish tint. This is an indication that it might be ready.
have fun!
What HASN'T worked for me? Vinegar. I dont get it. I've tried a dozen different vinegar methods without so much as a tint. If anything it made my brass look brighter and shinier since it's a natural cleaner. Woo hoo, so there you go. If you want to do the OPPOSITE of patina, try vinegar.
The first thing you need to do is clean your pieces. I use dish soap and a toothbrush (or vinegar, whatevs). You gotta get all the oils and factory dirt off. Rinse, pat them dry with a paper towel and set them aside. In a well venhilated area set up your ammonia station. Take a container with a lid (Tupperware is fine but don't use it for storing food after doing this, duh!) and fill it a couple of inches with household ammonia, I used clear but as far as I know it doesn't matter what kind you use. Cut a piece of wire and string your findings so they're hanging ABOVE the ammonia, not touching it. If it touches it, the affected area will turn black. You may decide later that you want that but if you want an even color make sure it doesn't touch.
Snap the lid on so the wire is sticking out on both ends holding the pieces in place. I haven't taken pictures of myself doing this but I did a search and found someone elses (beadfx.blogspot.com) to give you a visual.
The original article I read on this said that leaving it overnight was plenty of time. For good measure I gave it a full 24 hours. I noticed definite oxidation. The brass had a greenish white film over it and the copper was significantly darker. Come to find out it can take up to 10 days to get the full effect of "ammonia fuming", so I was misinformed and jumped the gun a bit.
I decided to mix up a few other tricks and methods on those same pieces while I waited on the next batch (since I have such a long wait)...
First, give them an ammonia/salt water bath. Heat water up just before the boiling point and pour it in a small bowl with 3 or 4 tablespoons of salt. With craft tweezers alternate the pieces between the ammonia and the hot salt water. Back and Forth (forever, jk) I did this about 5 times. The heat, then the chemical is supposed to make the metal more willing to accept color. With the ammonia being the last one, lay the pieces out on a paper towel. Before they dry sprinkle salt, dried cilantro and the secret ingredient, a drop of Mrs. Stewart's Liquid Bluing on the pieces. Let them sit for at least 3 hours, or overnight. Lightly brush of the excess and you'll have a beautiful rustic patinaed piece. Spray it with a clear matte coating to ensure the durability of the colors.
All of these ingredients I bought at the dollar store with the exception of Mrs. Stewarts Liquid Bluing. I got that at the grocery store for a few bucks. I had no luck finding it when I lived in Florida so if you have this same problem try using blue food coloring. I haven't tried it myself but based on the consistancy of Mrs. Stewarts (basically just a blue dye) I have a feeling it would work. Now I'm curious about other dyes and colors that may work as a substitute. Maybe using yellow Rite dye would make the object a brighter green? Also, why stick to just cilantro? Any dried green herb spice should work. I wonder what metal would look like with pepper sprinkled on it along with salt? Experiment is the mother of invention so once you master the oxidation part, play around with the colorization aspects. The possibilities are limitless!
and just to brag, here's my newest toy I got at the Pasadena Bead and Design show...
Gilders Paste! The amazing wax based product that covers metal, glass, plastic, wood, leather even upholtrsy! It's the funnest stuff ever, I got this color....
Doesn't have the charm of natural patina but it's still a lovely green and I know I'm going to have a blast with it!
~ ~ ~ EDIT! EDIT! EDIT! ~ ~ ~
Ok, so after putting this technique to practice for a more substancial period of time I decide to report back on the results. After four days of fuming multiple pieces of both brass and copper, here are the results...
They turned out more of a blue than green! I'm happy about this because I always thought blue patina would be hard to achieve. I'm wondering if the fact that I put so many pieces in one container effected the color. One clue to let you know that the pieces are about ready is the color of the ammonia. If you start with clear ammonia then after the 3rd day it should start to have a bluish tint. This is an indication that it might be ready.
have fun!
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
New Year, New City, New Life, et cetera...
Have you ever started an epic blog and gotten distracted from it? You say "I'll come back to it after work or school or whatever..." but it never seems to happen. This long blog sits unfinished in "draft" limbo before you finally realize that all it's doing is preventing you from moving forward into future blogdom.
I usually write this grand scale gift blog after Christmas. I've been doing that since the ancient days of Xanga, but this year for some reason the blog just couldn't seem to finish itself. It could be that I'm out of my comfort zone and there are endless distractions around me constantly. This could also be why my movie reviews have come to a screeching hault. I'm doing the best I can to keep myself balanced and unfortunately my blogs seem to be suffering. A pity because writing has always been a pivotal part in what keeps me well adjusted. Since it's a new year I've made a few resolutions I'd like to share here...
1. Write more often. Now that 2010 has passed I can safely say it was a good year. I married my sweetheart, my creativity levels were high and I even made a little money from it, not to mention my movie business which is still doing extremely well paid for MANY supply shopping sprees, birthday presents and even the occasional bill! One constant thing I can say about 2010 is that I kept a good journaling regiment. Whether it was my hand held journal, sketch book or one of my various blogs. Now with all of these distractions I'm going to have to make time for it. That's why I've made it a resolution. To set time aside at least once a week to put some thoughts down on paper or into blogosphere cloud.
2. To bring Endless Fall back. What's Endless Fall you ask? It's this movie marathon me my friend Tony started over 4 years ago! Watch a movie every day. It's as simple as that. Of course life comes up so I changed the rules to a movie for everyday of the month. Meaning, you can skip days, but make up for it on a free day. You'd be amazed how fulfilling it is. I always kept an Endless Fall diary where I logged every movie I'd watch along with any notes I may have. I'd usually make a list of the top 10 at the end of each month. I bought a notebook specifically for this purpose the other day. Now to just start doing it again. It will also motivate me to write reviews again, which will aid resolution #1. It's win/win across the board when Endless Fall is involved!
3. Up the ante with my jewelry making. I love making jewelry. In all reality it's the one creative thing I could see myself doing permanantly for a living. I learned alot this past year and now I'm ready to advance even more. I've just learned some basic wire wrapping techniques and I'd like to get even better at it. Not only that, I also want to start using better materials. I want to graduate from base metals to silver and gold. I want to use stones instead of glass and cheap crystals. Of course I'll still use those things, but I want "Atomic Caravan Studios" to be associated with quality not just pretty costume jewelry. I've been spending all my spare time getting an inventory back up and now I finally feel like I have enough to revive my Etsy. Also thinking about trying out Artfire, just a basic account, since I've heard so many mixed things about it. Eventually I'd like to graduate to really professional jewelry. Real fire tools and metal saws. All in due time! Stay tuned for updates on all of these things.
4. Learn to bake. Thankfully I come from a long line of amazing cooks. Not just cooks, natural chefs. Holiday events in my family are something to be revered. Being the youngest, I'm the last to start exploring this gift that we all have. Yes, I'm using the word gift, because now that I'm seeing what it's like in another family I can appreciate the fact that not everyone can make a meal happen with a magical finesse. I think for the most part I have savory dishes down. A combination of trial, error and Martha Stewart have made me a decent chef. What's standing in my way? Baked goods. Sure, I can make a simple drop cookie, but what about pastries, cakes (and icing), fancy breads, tortes, et cetera. There's this whole world of chef-ing-ton I've yet to explore. Getting a Cuisine Art food processor as a wedding gift will bring good tidings, I'm sure. So by the end of the year, watch out!
5. Explore LA. Ok, so since I've been here so far I've spent my "spare time", job hunting, then jumping right into a full time job. A shitty retail one at that. Now January is underway and I'm still working 5 days a week. I'm not complaining, the cash flow is good and in a place like LA you really need it. But I still don't feel like I've had the full LA experience. I know, that takes years, right? Even a partial LA experience. I'd at least like to put a dent in it. So to remind myself why I moved here I'm making it apart of my New Years resolution to do the following....
So there you have it. Not too bad, eh? Nothing too difficult to accomplish, but small things I can do to ensure a good year. And just so I don't completely break tradition here are my top five favorite Christmas presents...
FINALLY! Thanks to my Aunt Regina I can retire my crappy German bootleg of my FAVORITE movie! I think this calls for a revised review on Atomic Caravan!
I LOVE Finders Keepers, even more so if it's under the "B-Music" cannon. This was from my awesome hubby. The description says it all, "Imagine Melody Nelson taking a trip to La Planete Sauvage with a synth, a drum kit and some herbal french cigarettes."
Since my discovery of it a few months ago, Mystic Topaz is my very favorite stone. You can imagine my surprise when I discovered that my Mother in-law got me these GORGEOUS earrings!
Through out the month of October when we were doing some serious job hunting I really just wanted to curl up into the fetal position and watch Powerpuff Girls non-stop. I'm not sure what brought that urge on but being out of my comfort zone and having to branch out into a brave new world made me want to retreat to something safe and familiar in my spare time. I made several passing comments about wanting to watching some Powerpuff, so what does my husband do? Gets me the ENTIRE series! What a sweet heart! It's even better than I remembered. Fan fo' life.
Oh, Grandma. You spoil me so. I got this awwwesome espresso machine from my Grandma. I use it every day. I suppose that technically makes it my favorite gift? BEST EVER.
<3
On that note I shall depart. I have more jewelry picture to edit and I have to go to work soon. Sucks. Until next time...
I usually write this grand scale gift blog after Christmas. I've been doing that since the ancient days of Xanga, but this year for some reason the blog just couldn't seem to finish itself. It could be that I'm out of my comfort zone and there are endless distractions around me constantly. This could also be why my movie reviews have come to a screeching hault. I'm doing the best I can to keep myself balanced and unfortunately my blogs seem to be suffering. A pity because writing has always been a pivotal part in what keeps me well adjusted. Since it's a new year I've made a few resolutions I'd like to share here...
1. Write more often. Now that 2010 has passed I can safely say it was a good year. I married my sweetheart, my creativity levels were high and I even made a little money from it, not to mention my movie business which is still doing extremely well paid for MANY supply shopping sprees, birthday presents and even the occasional bill! One constant thing I can say about 2010 is that I kept a good journaling regiment. Whether it was my hand held journal, sketch book or one of my various blogs. Now with all of these distractions I'm going to have to make time for it. That's why I've made it a resolution. To set time aside at least once a week to put some thoughts down on paper or into blogosphere cloud.
2. To bring Endless Fall back. What's Endless Fall you ask? It's this movie marathon me my friend Tony started over 4 years ago! Watch a movie every day. It's as simple as that. Of course life comes up so I changed the rules to a movie for everyday of the month. Meaning, you can skip days, but make up for it on a free day. You'd be amazed how fulfilling it is. I always kept an Endless Fall diary where I logged every movie I'd watch along with any notes I may have. I'd usually make a list of the top 10 at the end of each month. I bought a notebook specifically for this purpose the other day. Now to just start doing it again. It will also motivate me to write reviews again, which will aid resolution #1. It's win/win across the board when Endless Fall is involved!
3. Up the ante with my jewelry making. I love making jewelry. In all reality it's the one creative thing I could see myself doing permanantly for a living. I learned alot this past year and now I'm ready to advance even more. I've just learned some basic wire wrapping techniques and I'd like to get even better at it. Not only that, I also want to start using better materials. I want to graduate from base metals to silver and gold. I want to use stones instead of glass and cheap crystals. Of course I'll still use those things, but I want "Atomic Caravan Studios" to be associated with quality not just pretty costume jewelry. I've been spending all my spare time getting an inventory back up and now I finally feel like I have enough to revive my Etsy. Also thinking about trying out Artfire, just a basic account, since I've heard so many mixed things about it. Eventually I'd like to graduate to really professional jewelry. Real fire tools and metal saws. All in due time! Stay tuned for updates on all of these things.
4. Learn to bake. Thankfully I come from a long line of amazing cooks. Not just cooks, natural chefs. Holiday events in my family are something to be revered. Being the youngest, I'm the last to start exploring this gift that we all have. Yes, I'm using the word gift, because now that I'm seeing what it's like in another family I can appreciate the fact that not everyone can make a meal happen with a magical finesse. I think for the most part I have savory dishes down. A combination of trial, error and Martha Stewart have made me a decent chef. What's standing in my way? Baked goods. Sure, I can make a simple drop cookie, but what about pastries, cakes (and icing), fancy breads, tortes, et cetera. There's this whole world of chef-ing-ton I've yet to explore. Getting a Cuisine Art food processor as a wedding gift will bring good tidings, I'm sure. So by the end of the year, watch out!
5. Explore LA. Ok, so since I've been here so far I've spent my "spare time", job hunting, then jumping right into a full time job. A shitty retail one at that. Now January is underway and I'm still working 5 days a week. I'm not complaining, the cash flow is good and in a place like LA you really need it. But I still don't feel like I've had the full LA experience. I know, that takes years, right? Even a partial LA experience. I'd at least like to put a dent in it. So to remind myself why I moved here I'm making it apart of my New Years resolution to do the following....
- Have one day a week where I venture out of my city. Living in SGV can be a little boring. Sure, I love the Asian markets but I can only buy so many herbal teas and encounter oh so many pissed off Chinese people. There is more to the area than this. There are over 200 cities in Los Angeles County and I'm going to have to make an effort to pursue these little adventures. I'll try and take pictures to commemorate these events.
- On a smaller scale, something I can do around my neighborhood to get the full experience is try a new restaurant every week. Let's face it, we eat out a lot. There are too many people in this house eating any groceries we may be bringing in to rely solely on that. Besides, eating out is cheap here and there are a lot more healthy options (one good thing about all the Asian food) than most places. So rather than getting pigeon holed into the same greasy spoon I'm making a point to be bold and experiment with the varieties of culture I'm surrounded by.
So there you have it. Not too bad, eh? Nothing too difficult to accomplish, but small things I can do to ensure a good year. And just so I don't completely break tradition here are my top five favorite Christmas presents...
FINALLY! Thanks to my Aunt Regina I can retire my crappy German bootleg of my FAVORITE movie! I think this calls for a revised review on Atomic Caravan!
I LOVE Finders Keepers, even more so if it's under the "B-Music" cannon. This was from my awesome hubby. The description says it all, "Imagine Melody Nelson taking a trip to La Planete Sauvage with a synth, a drum kit and some herbal french cigarettes."
Since my discovery of it a few months ago, Mystic Topaz is my very favorite stone. You can imagine my surprise when I discovered that my Mother in-law got me these GORGEOUS earrings!
Through out the month of October when we were doing some serious job hunting I really just wanted to curl up into the fetal position and watch Powerpuff Girls non-stop. I'm not sure what brought that urge on but being out of my comfort zone and having to branch out into a brave new world made me want to retreat to something safe and familiar in my spare time. I made several passing comments about wanting to watching some Powerpuff, so what does my husband do? Gets me the ENTIRE series! What a sweet heart! It's even better than I remembered. Fan fo' life.
Oh, Grandma. You spoil me so. I got this awwwesome espresso machine from my Grandma. I use it every day. I suppose that technically makes it my favorite gift? BEST EVER.
<3
On that note I shall depart. I have more jewelry picture to edit and I have to go to work soon. Sucks. Until next time...
Monday, November 15, 2010
Black as Midnight, Black as Pitch, Blacker than the Foulest Witch
For the past month Venus, my planet, has been in retrograde which as far as I know supposed to make life a little more complicated. I could concur that assertion but I'm I don't necessarily think that's a bad thing. Since last fall, around this time actually, Saturn has been in my chart. For the first time since I was a baby. I noticed a huge astrological impact from Saturn before I even read up on it. Despite Venus representing art and beauty I've found more inspiration during this Saturn period than ever before. All of my classic paintings came from Saturn and all of my complicated jewelry.
I've felt so strange since last month. I assumed it was the move but now I'm thinking that in reality, Saturn is a big part of the reason I made the decision and was able to press forth through the painstaking process. With Venus being out I've felt almost completely ruled by Saturn which I've decided I absolutely love. Some Librans have issues with Saturn but I feel energized by it's strange cosmic energy. My interpretation of certain things are different and I find myself inspired by things I'd never given any thought. This past month having so much Saturn while living in a completely new place has been an adventure. I feel different in Southern California. I realized today that I feel much more at home being near mountains than I ever did being near the beach. Every day on my way to work I drive through a hilly area with an abundance of oriental plants and old buildings, in the distance I have a photographic view of a gorgeous mountain scape. I'm sure it's taken for granted by the locals, the way I grew tired of hearing tourists rave about white sand and sunsets.
As I mentioned, my taste has changed, but not really "changed" it's just become more defined. Lately I've felt very romantic, not just with my husband but also with myself. An abundance of positivity and imagination. I feel my inner craftress coming out. I feel inspired by colors, aromas and simplicity in a completely new way. I've made several jewelry racks recently out of scraps I've found in the back yard. Upon completion I've decided that I despise jewelry boxes. Some are nice decorative items but really, who even came up with the idea of storing your fineries in a dusty old box like they were meant to be hidden. Not only do I feel more inclined to wear them when they're in plain sight but it also seems to brighten the room up quite a bit having reflective metals and crystal prisms catching the light (which is very little since our window is blocked by a big tree).
My latest obsession is Mystic Topaz. Can you think of anything more amazing? A true rainbow crystal. A unicorn's talisman. I never really knew what they were called but every I'd seen one in the past I gasped at it's stunning beauty. I seem to recall the ones I'd seen in the past being somewhat pricey and only now have I been able to put the name to the stone. It is MY stone. My birthstone is opal, which I love, but it's so it's own thing. It's pearlescent and it's also extremely soft. My first engagement ring was an opal by my request and in less than 6 months, wearing it day in/day out, I cracked it opening a box of wine. Can you think of anything more tragic and tacky? It was quickly replaced by a diamond heirloom...but still. White diamonds may be relatively indestructible but there's no magic there. How could they be? Liz Taylor named her stank ass old lady perfume after them. ANYWAY... the mystic topaz is like the opal of the crystal world. I realized that I don't have many nice rings. Mostly costume jewelry and a few nice gifts from my mom. But I don't recall ever buying a nice ring for myself. So I just got over it and bought myself this...
..oh mah gawsh..
Is it not superb? It's a little big. About half a size up from my ring finger but coming in right under two inches it's probably meant for my middle finger. This ring will complete my journey of becoming Queen of the Unicorn Wizards.
But back to stinky perfume. I can't standz nastay cheap stuff. As I've mentioned before, I'm a connoisseur of fine colognes. I usually gravitate towards light florals with subtle hints of vanilla and citrus. Lately, with this change of cosmic energy I've been wanting something different so I decided to finally order some things from For Strange Women on Etsy. Since her fine oils and solid perfumes are somewhat pricey (although I'm sure totally worth it) I decided to start with some samples to get a feel for what I can and can't live without. So I ordered the following...
Mix and Match three samples. I chose:
*Winter Kitty
*Moss and Ivy
*Astral Projection
I greatly anticipate trying these lovely handmade oils. Better yet, I ordered a sample of a solid perfume that sounded so lovely from the description, how could I resist?? Antique Settee...
"This blend reveals the past with hints of roses, violets, and everlastings lingering on velvet upholstery from perfumed guests that have come and gone. Freshly polished wood trim is woven throughout, finished with a deep base of Earl Grey tea (spilled on the cushions over the years). The essence of black tea leaves soaked in bergamot improves with age while lending a comforting character. This aromatic interpretation offers you the opportunity to embody this classic heirloom’s history."
Oh.My....must have. I got a "pine cone" lip balm as well. Which leads to to my current favorite lip wear.
Lately I've been wearing this black YSL lip gloss. It is BLACK. But don't fret, I don't wear it like that. Just a little bit goes a long way. Blended evenly it casts a smokey shadow on my lips that I love. With a layer of translucent purple Anna Sui lipstick is absolutely gorgeous. Just thought I'd mention it...
I'm not sure what the story is here but I can't help but be a little worried by it.
I was just informed that Rasputina put out a new album a few months ago. Where the heck have I been? This discovery couldn't have come at a better time.
Until next time my Unicorn Minions...
I've felt so strange since last month. I assumed it was the move but now I'm thinking that in reality, Saturn is a big part of the reason I made the decision and was able to press forth through the painstaking process. With Venus being out I've felt almost completely ruled by Saturn which I've decided I absolutely love. Some Librans have issues with Saturn but I feel energized by it's strange cosmic energy. My interpretation of certain things are different and I find myself inspired by things I'd never given any thought. This past month having so much Saturn while living in a completely new place has been an adventure. I feel different in Southern California. I realized today that I feel much more at home being near mountains than I ever did being near the beach. Every day on my way to work I drive through a hilly area with an abundance of oriental plants and old buildings, in the distance I have a photographic view of a gorgeous mountain scape. I'm sure it's taken for granted by the locals, the way I grew tired of hearing tourists rave about white sand and sunsets.
As I mentioned, my taste has changed, but not really "changed" it's just become more defined. Lately I've felt very romantic, not just with my husband but also with myself. An abundance of positivity and imagination. I feel my inner craftress coming out. I feel inspired by colors, aromas and simplicity in a completely new way. I've made several jewelry racks recently out of scraps I've found in the back yard. Upon completion I've decided that I despise jewelry boxes. Some are nice decorative items but really, who even came up with the idea of storing your fineries in a dusty old box like they were meant to be hidden. Not only do I feel more inclined to wear them when they're in plain sight but it also seems to brighten the room up quite a bit having reflective metals and crystal prisms catching the light (which is very little since our window is blocked by a big tree).
My latest obsession is Mystic Topaz. Can you think of anything more amazing? A true rainbow crystal. A unicorn's talisman. I never really knew what they were called but every I'd seen one in the past I gasped at it's stunning beauty. I seem to recall the ones I'd seen in the past being somewhat pricey and only now have I been able to put the name to the stone. It is MY stone. My birthstone is opal, which I love, but it's so it's own thing. It's pearlescent and it's also extremely soft. My first engagement ring was an opal by my request and in less than 6 months, wearing it day in/day out, I cracked it opening a box of wine. Can you think of anything more tragic and tacky? It was quickly replaced by a diamond heirloom...but still. White diamonds may be relatively indestructible but there's no magic there. How could they be? Liz Taylor named her stank ass old lady perfume after them. ANYWAY... the mystic topaz is like the opal of the crystal world. I realized that I don't have many nice rings. Mostly costume jewelry and a few nice gifts from my mom. But I don't recall ever buying a nice ring for myself. So I just got over it and bought myself this...
..oh mah gawsh..
Is it not superb? It's a little big. About half a size up from my ring finger but coming in right under two inches it's probably meant for my middle finger. This ring will complete my journey of becoming Queen of the Unicorn Wizards.
But back to stinky perfume. I can't standz nastay cheap stuff. As I've mentioned before, I'm a connoisseur of fine colognes. I usually gravitate towards light florals with subtle hints of vanilla and citrus. Lately, with this change of cosmic energy I've been wanting something different so I decided to finally order some things from For Strange Women on Etsy. Since her fine oils and solid perfumes are somewhat pricey (although I'm sure totally worth it) I decided to start with some samples to get a feel for what I can and can't live without. So I ordered the following...
Mix and Match three samples. I chose:
*Winter Kitty
*Moss and Ivy
*Astral Projection
I greatly anticipate trying these lovely handmade oils. Better yet, I ordered a sample of a solid perfume that sounded so lovely from the description, how could I resist?? Antique Settee...
"This blend reveals the past with hints of roses, violets, and everlastings lingering on velvet upholstery from perfumed guests that have come and gone. Freshly polished wood trim is woven throughout, finished with a deep base of Earl Grey tea (spilled on the cushions over the years). The essence of black tea leaves soaked in bergamot improves with age while lending a comforting character. This aromatic interpretation offers you the opportunity to embody this classic heirloom’s history."
Oh.My....must have. I got a "pine cone" lip balm as well. Which leads to to my current favorite lip wear.
Lately I've been wearing this black YSL lip gloss. It is BLACK. But don't fret, I don't wear it like that. Just a little bit goes a long way. Blended evenly it casts a smokey shadow on my lips that I love. With a layer of translucent purple Anna Sui lipstick is absolutely gorgeous. Just thought I'd mention it...
I'm not sure what the story is here but I can't help but be a little worried by it.
I was just informed that Rasputina put out a new album a few months ago. Where the heck have I been? This discovery couldn't have come at a better time.
Until next time my Unicorn Minions...
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Candy Time
One of the best things about living in a culturally diverse area is the variety of things I shouldn't be eating. Every time I walk into a grocery store I'm tempted by something I've never seen before. I especially love Japanese chocolate, but really anything is better than American chocolate. So then I started thinking about all of these different things I've tried and how much I love talking about stuff. It makes to combine the two and start doing candy reviews. Not just candy but beverages, snacks and anything else that might stand out at these awesome Oriental grocery stores. So for today I'm going to start with the three most recent entries to my confectious conquisition.
Meiji Apollo Chocolate Lolipos
You've probably seen these or something like them. Usually they're small, like the size of a chocolate chip, and come in a box. They're rich and creamy but are also pretty mild. The bottom half is milk chocolate and the top half is a soft strawberry. This is the Lolipop version (or "Lolipo" according to other sites I've found it on). It's the same concept only larger and on a plastic stick. Maybe I should have started with the original. Apollo chocolates have been a long time favorite of mine. But I just tried this one so I figured it was a good place to start. Over all, I like them slightly less than the small version. It seemed a little chalkier than the original which is perfectly smooth. Although I did look at the back and realize that the expiration date is this month so it's probably been sitting on the shelf for the better part of the year. They still run circles around any American chocolate treat. Verdict? Cute concept, but I think I'll stick to the original. I think you get more chocolate for around the same price anyway.
I bought them at the Tozai Japanese Market, Monterey Park, CA.
Price: $1.69
Rating: 6/10
Meiji Chelsea Yogurt Scotch
Yogurt flavored things seem to be really popular in Japan. I saw these sitting next to the same brand's regular butterscotch candies so I assumed it was some butterscotch/yogurt hybrid. I also assumed they were soft chews, which was totally wrong. They're hard candies. I'm usually not crazy about hard candies. I tend to get bored with them and end up spitting them out. These were different though. It did have a slightly creamy/tangy taste like yogurt does. The texture was like a butterscotch candy, but nothing else was similar. It was really smooth and disolved pretty fast, which is good for me.I probably wouldn't buy them again but I by no means regret getting them. They'll be a nice treat while I'm at work when I need a little pick me up. Maybe next time I'll try the regular butterscotch flavor. I love the packaging too. So pretty!
Tozai Japanese Market, Monterey Park, CA
$1.69
7/10
Calpico (original flavor)
Something about this milky white drink looked so refreshing to me. According to the website it's non-carbonated soft drink made from milk and lactobacilli. Apparently lactobacilli is a natural acid found in yogurt. It's hard to describe the taste. Definitely tangy but also smooth. It's also very much yogurt flavored, but not at all thick. It's watery like any juice beverages would be. The tartness has a bite, almost like citrus but the aftertaste is really smooth and creamy. It's very pleasant and enjoyable, but the tangy sweetness is a bit much for me. Like a kids drink. I also don't know how I feel about the flavor being so unidentifiable. It's kind of it's own thing. Next time I think I'll try the strawberry or mango.
bought at Tokyo Japanese Lifestyle in Monterey Park, CA
$2.25
6/10
Meiji Apollo Chocolate Lolipos
You've probably seen these or something like them. Usually they're small, like the size of a chocolate chip, and come in a box. They're rich and creamy but are also pretty mild. The bottom half is milk chocolate and the top half is a soft strawberry. This is the Lolipop version (or "Lolipo" according to other sites I've found it on). It's the same concept only larger and on a plastic stick. Maybe I should have started with the original. Apollo chocolates have been a long time favorite of mine. But I just tried this one so I figured it was a good place to start. Over all, I like them slightly less than the small version. It seemed a little chalkier than the original which is perfectly smooth. Although I did look at the back and realize that the expiration date is this month so it's probably been sitting on the shelf for the better part of the year. They still run circles around any American chocolate treat. Verdict? Cute concept, but I think I'll stick to the original. I think you get more chocolate for around the same price anyway.
I bought them at the Tozai Japanese Market, Monterey Park, CA.
Price: $1.69
Rating: 6/10
Meiji Chelsea Yogurt Scotch
Yogurt flavored things seem to be really popular in Japan. I saw these sitting next to the same brand's regular butterscotch candies so I assumed it was some butterscotch/yogurt hybrid. I also assumed they were soft chews, which was totally wrong. They're hard candies. I'm usually not crazy about hard candies. I tend to get bored with them and end up spitting them out. These were different though. It did have a slightly creamy/tangy taste like yogurt does. The texture was like a butterscotch candy, but nothing else was similar. It was really smooth and disolved pretty fast, which is good for me.I probably wouldn't buy them again but I by no means regret getting them. They'll be a nice treat while I'm at work when I need a little pick me up. Maybe next time I'll try the regular butterscotch flavor. I love the packaging too. So pretty!
Tozai Japanese Market, Monterey Park, CA
$1.69
7/10
Calpico (original flavor)
Something about this milky white drink looked so refreshing to me. According to the website it's non-carbonated soft drink made from milk and lactobacilli. Apparently lactobacilli is a natural acid found in yogurt. It's hard to describe the taste. Definitely tangy but also smooth. It's also very much yogurt flavored, but not at all thick. It's watery like any juice beverages would be. The tartness has a bite, almost like citrus but the aftertaste is really smooth and creamy. It's very pleasant and enjoyable, but the tangy sweetness is a bit much for me. Like a kids drink. I also don't know how I feel about the flavor being so unidentifiable. It's kind of it's own thing. Next time I think I'll try the strawberry or mango.
bought at Tokyo Japanese Lifestyle in Monterey Park, CA
$2.25
6/10
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Invoking the Spirit
A while back I mentioned the possibility of reviewing movies I feel aren't Atomic Caravan worthy on this blog. It's hard to explain what exactly a movie like that entails since I obviously have no problem reviewing complete garbage but today I think I'm going to explore one such film. The epic, the life changing, The Craft.
Ok, so it's 1996, I'm 10 years old. It's been a good decade for teen movies which isn't helping to prevent my wanting to grow up too fast. I remember wanting to see this in the theater SO bad! My mom, being the concerned parent of a pre-teen wouldn't let me. Hummph. Thankfully, around the time of it's video release, I was now 11 and she herself had become curious about it so she decided to let me see it. How can I describe how this movie effected that small, under developed version of me? In a way it validated Mom's reason for originally not wanting me to see it. I had no interest in Robin Tunney's boring good witchery. I was all about some Fairuza. I wanted to BE her! I had just begun wearing make-up and made sure I applied far too much black eyeliner any chance I could get away with it. The clothes in that movie really effected my taste, even still today. White button up shirts with long tapered collars, black vests or suspenders and of course the signature plaid skirt with knee to thigh-high stockings. I remember thinking Nancy's cross earrings were so cool. I still have the onyx and marcasite cross necklace I bought a few years later which I viewed as the "perfect Craft inspired cross necklace".
Years passed, I had my fair share of slumber parties featuring "light as a feather, stiff as a board", at least three gothic phases between middle school and early college and still to this day endless quoting and fond memories of watching it with friends. It's not even a movie I'd say I'm proud to be a fan of, it's beyond that. Like many girls (and some very special boyz) my age, it's just apart of us! Anyway, this isn't exactly a review. I just had my annual viewing so I thought I'd emblazon my undying love for this movie on my public blog. I watched it with some first-timers, both were somewhat freaked out by it. Or taken aback at least, which completely confused me. COMPLETELY. Maybe I'm desensitized but the Craft, to me, is a semi-juvenile fashion oriented fun fest. Forget that whole suicide and murder sub-plot. There's ... um ... magic and cool clothes. Whaddya' want??? Besides, I can't take any movie seriously with Jewel on the soundtrack. C'mon!
"HE'S-SAWRY-HE'S-SAWRY-HE'S-SAWRY-SAWRY-MY-ASSSSSS!!!"
Ok, so it's 1996, I'm 10 years old. It's been a good decade for teen movies which isn't helping to prevent my wanting to grow up too fast. I remember wanting to see this in the theater SO bad! My mom, being the concerned parent of a pre-teen wouldn't let me. Hummph. Thankfully, around the time of it's video release, I was now 11 and she herself had become curious about it so she decided to let me see it. How can I describe how this movie effected that small, under developed version of me? In a way it validated Mom's reason for originally not wanting me to see it. I had no interest in Robin Tunney's boring good witchery. I was all about some Fairuza. I wanted to BE her! I had just begun wearing make-up and made sure I applied far too much black eyeliner any chance I could get away with it. The clothes in that movie really effected my taste, even still today. White button up shirts with long tapered collars, black vests or suspenders and of course the signature plaid skirt with knee to thigh-high stockings. I remember thinking Nancy's cross earrings were so cool. I still have the onyx and marcasite cross necklace I bought a few years later which I viewed as the "perfect Craft inspired cross necklace".
Years passed, I had my fair share of slumber parties featuring "light as a feather, stiff as a board", at least three gothic phases between middle school and early college and still to this day endless quoting and fond memories of watching it with friends. It's not even a movie I'd say I'm proud to be a fan of, it's beyond that. Like many girls (and some very special boyz) my age, it's just apart of us! Anyway, this isn't exactly a review. I just had my annual viewing so I thought I'd emblazon my undying love for this movie on my public blog. I watched it with some first-timers, both were somewhat freaked out by it. Or taken aback at least, which completely confused me. COMPLETELY. Maybe I'm desensitized but the Craft, to me, is a semi-juvenile fashion oriented fun fest. Forget that whole suicide and murder sub-plot. There's ... um ... magic and cool clothes. Whaddya' want??? Besides, I can't take any movie seriously with Jewel on the soundtrack. C'mon!
"HE'S-SAWRY-HE'S-SAWRY-HE'S-SAWRY-SAWRY-MY-ASSSSSS!!!"
Monday, November 1, 2010
Feliz Dia De Los Muertos
I celebrated my first day of the dead this year. I can easily say it's one of my favorite holidays of all time. It's so festive and colorful. I always hated that Halloween decor tends to be limited to black, purple and orange. Colors I like, but not necessarily together. We went to the Hollywood Forever Cemetery for the celebration and had a blast. Not going to go too picture crazy but here are a few high lights...
This might be the most hideous painting on the planet.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
My three favorite things right now...
Aloe Vera juice is the SHITTTTT!! It's incredibly healthy and very lightly sweet. It tastes like a mild grape. I especially love the pulp. This is my beverage of choice now.
This is not a beverage. This is my current moisturizer. It's very mild and refreshing. I love the way it smells and how bright my face looks after wearing it for a few hours. Kose's regular Sekkisei moisturizer is a little too high in alcohol for my taste. I attribute this to my present state of well being.
Liquid royal jelly has been apart of my regular consumption lately. It gives you energy and is supposed to help the blood flow to your brain. It also tastes pretty good. I love the little glass bottle and little straw.
YAY!
Now I'm going to go make a snack dinner!
I LUV SGV
It's been way too long! As I mentioned before I had a HUGE move to deal with. I now live in Los Angeles County, more specifically Monterey Park. We'd been planning a move back for a long time and it's still kind of surreal seeing it all flesh out. I don't really want to get into the whole job/apartment thing right now. It's been tedious but steady going. Things are coming along but really slowly for some reason. I really like the San Gabriel Valley. Since the last time we were here I didn't have my car, I couldn't do the exploring I wanted to. I've really enjoyed my time driving around looking at all the little Chinese shops. You know what an Asiaholic I am. I like Alhambra a lot as well. There are so many nooks and crannies you kind of have to know what you're looking for. My big obsession right now is Japanese cosmetics and skin care products. I read that they're both a decade ahead of Western products. After trying some things I've bought recently I'm pretty much convinced. My favorite store so far is Takashimaya...
It's really crowded and colorful. If you don't know anything about Japanese make-up it would be impossible to know what to get. I don't know much but I have been wanting to try Majolica Majorca (owned by Shiseido), Lavshuca and Kate (both owned by Kanebo), rather than blind buying some over priced import, it made sense to track down this shop that's in my own freaking neighborhood and take a look. I was so overwhelmed that I just ended up only getting an issue of Voce.
One of Japan's leading beauty magazines. Sure, I can't read it but the pictures are large and clear. They also do a variety of tests on products using numbers to identify them so it's still very enjoyable and informative. On top of that it came with a free sample of RMK firming cream and a terry cloth head band for facials. Still feeling a little overwhelmed by this amazing store and getting vibes from my bored husband I decided to move on tothe next store. Across the street was a smaller more conservative make-up store that carries the make-up I've really REALLY been wanting. Paul & Joe.
Did I drop $25 on this without hesitation? Hell yes I did! And I'm still not sure if I'll ever be able to bring myself to use it.
I also got this lovely nail polish since it was on sale for $9...
I've been wanting a nice corally orange for a while. This one's really soft and lady like.
While I was there, the girl who helped me showed me a product that is CHANGING MY FREAKING LIFE! Possibly the most incredible skin product of all time...
It makes your dead skin fall off! It just falls right off! As you rub it into your skin you start to feel clumps of what resembles rubber eraser shavings. Afterward you're skin feels SUPER soft and there is a noticable difference. When I drove over here from Florida I got somewhat of an unsightly farmer's tan from the window. I could litterally see my tan fading as I used it. it's meant for the face but I'll rarely use it for that. Every once in a while when I give myself an intense facial. What I love about this product is what it's doing for my arms. I'm one of those people who has bumps on my arms. You've seen them I'm sure, a lot of people have them, most people grow out of them...some dont. I've tried everything to make them go away. Scrubbing with exfoliant really dilligently in every shower, I've tried salicylic acid. My mom used to think it was some sort of acne (it's not) so we tried body products for acne, they obviously didnt work. I'd all but given up. I tried this and I could immediately notice a big difference. After just 3 days of using it you can barely see them. At this rate they'll be completely gone in the next couple of weeks. And there aren't any dagnerous ingredients in it either. Lots of "root extracts"...it's a miracle product! I'm in love!
Ok...so what else? We went to Knott's Scary Farm for my birthday. The whole park was like a giant haunted house. It was a lot of fun! I can't think of a better way to have spent my 25th birthday. We haven't been watching as many movies lately. Our set-up is kind of sucky right now, I wrote about all of that on Atomic Caravan. I'm only about 10 minutes from Little Tokyo so I've spent a few afternoons there. There's a great grocery store I've been frequenting as well as a place called the Japanese Cosmetics Company where I've been buying my Kose products. Their white powder wash has helped restore my natural bright fairness and their Junkisui moisturizer is perfect for my sensitive-ass skin.
Ok, that's all for now. I have a second job interview today. That's all I'm sayin' because I'm a firm believer in jinxing things. I need to go have my royal jelly and start getting ready!
Until next time! <3
It's really crowded and colorful. If you don't know anything about Japanese make-up it would be impossible to know what to get. I don't know much but I have been wanting to try Majolica Majorca (owned by Shiseido), Lavshuca and Kate (both owned by Kanebo), rather than blind buying some over priced import, it made sense to track down this shop that's in my own freaking neighborhood and take a look. I was so overwhelmed that I just ended up only getting an issue of Voce.
One of Japan's leading beauty magazines. Sure, I can't read it but the pictures are large and clear. They also do a variety of tests on products using numbers to identify them so it's still very enjoyable and informative. On top of that it came with a free sample of RMK firming cream and a terry cloth head band for facials. Still feeling a little overwhelmed by this amazing store and getting vibes from my bored husband I decided to move on tothe next store. Across the street was a smaller more conservative make-up store that carries the make-up I've really REALLY been wanting. Paul & Joe.
Did I drop $25 on this without hesitation? Hell yes I did! And I'm still not sure if I'll ever be able to bring myself to use it.
I also got this lovely nail polish since it was on sale for $9...
I've been wanting a nice corally orange for a while. This one's really soft and lady like.
While I was there, the girl who helped me showed me a product that is CHANGING MY FREAKING LIFE! Possibly the most incredible skin product of all time...
It makes your dead skin fall off! It just falls right off! As you rub it into your skin you start to feel clumps of what resembles rubber eraser shavings. Afterward you're skin feels SUPER soft and there is a noticable difference. When I drove over here from Florida I got somewhat of an unsightly farmer's tan from the window. I could litterally see my tan fading as I used it. it's meant for the face but I'll rarely use it for that. Every once in a while when I give myself an intense facial. What I love about this product is what it's doing for my arms. I'm one of those people who has bumps on my arms. You've seen them I'm sure, a lot of people have them, most people grow out of them...some dont. I've tried everything to make them go away. Scrubbing with exfoliant really dilligently in every shower, I've tried salicylic acid. My mom used to think it was some sort of acne (it's not) so we tried body products for acne, they obviously didnt work. I'd all but given up. I tried this and I could immediately notice a big difference. After just 3 days of using it you can barely see them. At this rate they'll be completely gone in the next couple of weeks. And there aren't any dagnerous ingredients in it either. Lots of "root extracts"...it's a miracle product! I'm in love!
Ok...so what else? We went to Knott's Scary Farm for my birthday. The whole park was like a giant haunted house. It was a lot of fun! I can't think of a better way to have spent my 25th birthday. We haven't been watching as many movies lately. Our set-up is kind of sucky right now, I wrote about all of that on Atomic Caravan. I'm only about 10 minutes from Little Tokyo so I've spent a few afternoons there. There's a great grocery store I've been frequenting as well as a place called the Japanese Cosmetics Company where I've been buying my Kose products. Their white powder wash has helped restore my natural bright fairness and their Junkisui moisturizer is perfect for my sensitive-ass skin.
Ok, that's all for now. I have a second job interview today. That's all I'm sayin' because I'm a firm believer in jinxing things. I need to go have my royal jelly and start getting ready!
Until next time! <3
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
I wanna have a tea party!
It's true.
I used to pretend to be sick in middle school so my Grandma would come and pick me up. Whenever this happened she took me to have a High Tea at Willows, the local tea shoppe. Can you think of a better way of encouraging class skipping?
I've been addicted to vintage make-up adds lately...
GAH! I would use all of these! Cosmetic packaging has really taken a nose dive since the 70's.
I've been wanting to post this pink peacock for weeks but I haven't been able to think of a good reason. I'm just gonna go for it...
annnnnnd......Ann-Margret.
I used to pretend to be sick in middle school so my Grandma would come and pick me up. Whenever this happened she took me to have a High Tea at Willows, the local tea shoppe. Can you think of a better way of encouraging class skipping?
I've been addicted to vintage make-up adds lately...
GAH! I would use all of these! Cosmetic packaging has really taken a nose dive since the 70's.
I've been wanting to post this pink peacock for weeks but I haven't been able to think of a good reason. I'm just gonna go for it...
annnnnnd......Ann-Margret.
Introducing: Unicorn Wizard's Mixtape Club!!!
I've been wanting to do something like this for a long time. When I started my other blog (Atomic Caravan) a little over a year ago I had originally intended for it to be an all-purpose blog. I was still mourning the downfall of Myspace where I had been blogging since high school. I also had a separate Myspace (Endless Fall) for movie reviews. Slowly after starting Atomic Caravan it turned more and more into a replacement for Endless Fall. Before I made the conscious decision to let the movies take over, I posted several music downloads. One being Mulatu Asatke's "Mulatu of Ethiopia" , hip African jazz with a Latin flair. Another being the rare Frank Zappa album "Trick or Treat" as a Halloween special. My favorite though, was an incredible mix I made called Frankenstein Radio Controls Volume 1. I was so very proud of this mix I made for house cleaning that I combined drawings and clippings to make an awesome cover and posted it on the blog for download. I even made a bonus disc to double the fun! I enjoyed posting my mix so much more than posting regular albums. I understand people want whole albums of artists they like, but that kind of sharing isn't for me. Where's the fun in that? Besides, I think it's less illegal to share compiled music.
As time passed I wanted an everything else blog, so I started this one. There you have it! Now I can start making mixes again.
My mixes are world famous... Ok, that's not true at all. But my friends and family have always enjoyed receiving them to the point where's expected. It makes sense to start posting mixes regularly since I'm moving very soon and probably won't be handing out tangible copies to my loved ones as frequently. This way EVERYONE can get them and I can conserve my blank stash.
What to know:
Technically they aren't mixtapes at all. they're actually tailored to be mixed cds (duh) since they're around 80 minutes and I'm assuming most of you don't have a cassette adapter for your computer (we do, but it's a pain in the ass). Since I'm not handing it out in any particular format, Mixtape works, Mixtape Club it shall be. Although I guess it's also not really a "club" since it's available to everyone, but whatevs. Don't get all semantic-y on me.
I have no idea how frequently or infrequently I'm going to do this. Basically, I know nothing, so there's really not much for you to know either.
Like any person who posts something they made, I'd like to know if it was (or will be) enjoyed. Friendly comments are encouraging but I don't expect them. I've done my fair share of blogspot downloading and I know that it's not always convenient to say anything. Just throwin' it out there ;-D
To start with I'm going to post the wedding mix we made for our guests. Don't wince just yet. We're not a conventional couple and we didn't play conventional music at the wedding. Have I mentioned that my husband is a bonified music historian? I thought I had a lot of records when we met having but a measly 400 or so. Pah! He trumped my collection with a towering 20,000 records, most of those being 78's. There's music constantly playing in our house from the dawn of recorded sound to present day. You can see why we make so many mixes! Although I will admit that the wedding comp was more challenging since there was such a large variety of personal taste to take into consideration. Everyone from my Grandparents to my weirdo friends. We did try and play it somewhat safe. We started out with some lesser known b-sides by famous classic artists we like and slowly made it a little more quirky to appease our taste. All the while sticking to "essentials" for us over the years. Shared favorites such as Chuck Miller's "Lookout Mountain", La Lupe's "Fever" (which is, in both our our opinions, the best and wildest version of that song. she sounds like a demented chipmunk) and of course Spike Jones' "Cocktails for Two" which was one of the first mutual musical loves we discovered upon meeting, and appropriately ends the disc.
Also personal favorites, Arthur has a particular obsession with Italian bad ass Adriano Celantano and his Elvis-style way of singing. Mose Allison's "Seventh Son" and LOVE's "!Que Vida!" are also among his favorites. A few of mine include Nina Simone's rendition of "Work Song", Kayoko Moriyama's "Melon No Kimochi" but more than any other George Baker Selection's "Little Green Bag" which has long been one of my all time favorite songs (way before I saw Reservoir Dogs). We weren't sure if it was appropriate to put songs about chain gangs, lost bags of marijuana, religious prophets, and being haunted by the ghost of your dead husband on your wedding mix, but sticking exclusively to a "love" theme was just lame and boring.
So without further adieu...
The Marriage of Like Minded Unicorns
1. Chuck Berry - You Never Can Tell
2. Bobby Darin - Lovin' You
3. Elvis Presley -Surrender
4. Adriano Celantano - Svalulation
5. John Barry - Beat Girl
6. George Baker Selection - Little Green Bag
7. Nina Simone - Work Song
8. Serge Gainsbourg - Chatterton
9. R. Crumb and His Keep On Truckin' Orchestra - Wisconsin Wiggles
10. Chuck Miller - Lookout Mountain
11. Sam Cooke - Good News
12. the Kinks - Everybody's Gonna Be Happy
13. Mose Allison - Seventh Son
14. LOVE - !Que Vida!
15. Gary McFarland - Fried Bananas
16. Nat King Cole - El Bodeguero
17. Kayoko Moriyama - Melon No Kimochi
18. the Troggs - With a Girl Like You
19. Os Mutantes - Hey Boy
20. France Gall - Jazz A GoGo
21. the Shirelles - Love is a Swingin' Thing
22. La Lupe - Fever
23. Rita Pavone - Viva La Pappa Col Pomodoro
24. the Newbeats - Bread and Butter
25. Huey "Piano" Smith and the Clowns - Don't You Just Know It
26. the Coasters - Down Home Girl
27. Dengue Fever - Clipped Wings
28. Chicha Libre - Indian Summer
29. Spike Jones - Cocktail for Two
As I was panicking less than two hours before the reception to organize our playlist, my cousin wisely told me not to worry. He said that you won't even remember what you played afterwards since everything will be so hectic. He was right! Everyone was talking and having fun, no one really noticed the music. Or if they did, I haven't heard anything about it. This is after weeks of meticulously going through 600 gigabytes of music to put together three separate playlists. An upbeat but mellow pre-dinner playlist, one specifically for dinner which would be mostly pleasant samba and jazz, then the last playlist which would be fun dance-y music for those of us who'd be drinking the night away. As it were, the playlists got scrambled leaving me a semi-nervous wreck. But it was all good music and no had any idea, so OH WELL! There were so many great songs we wanted to put on the wedding mix, but couldn't fit. 80 minutes is not enough! We easily had enough for another mix. So after the wedding when everything calmed down I went through the playlist and picked some of our other favorites to compile a ....
BONUS DISC!
1. Lawrence Welk - Bubbles in Wine
2. Frank Zappa - Why Don'tcha Do Me Right
3. Baby Huey - Messin' with the Kid
4. Mickey & Sylvia - No Good Lover
5. the John Buzon Trio - Caravan
6. Perry Como - Magic Moments
7. the Cowsills - the Rain, the Park and Other Things
8. Pizzicato Five - Nata Di Marzo
9. Wanda De Sah - So Danco Samba (Jazz 'N' Samba)
10. Van Dyke Parks - Riverboat
11. Thurston Harris - Little Bitty Pretty One
12. the Four Seasons - C'mon Marriane
13. Boney M. - Ma Baker
14. Ray Sharpe - Hey, Little Girl
15. the SG Sound - Jump the Shark
16. the Four Seasons - C'mon Marianne
17. Roger and the Gypsies - Pass the Hatches
18. Ronnie Foster - Mystic Brew
19. Ann-Margret - Someday Soon
20. Jacques Dutronc - Le Responsable
21. Oh! Penelope - Lait Au Miel
22. the Vogues - Five O'Clock World
23. Mel Torme - the Games People Play
24. Link Wray - the Swag
25. Tom Waits - Jockey Full of Burbon
26. Dick Dale - Misirlou
27. Julius La Rosa - Eh Cumpari
28. the Coasters - Brazil
29. Um...*bonus track*
There you have it folks, the first (and second I guess) entry to the Unicorn Wizard Mixtape Club. Although I love classic old stand by's, there will probably be less "safe" songs on my regular mixes.
Until next time!...
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