The breath of Hallow's Eve is almost upon us. Unfortunately this Halloween falls on a Wednesday which leads to excessive cramming over the weekend to party like its 1999 before the drudgery of routine comes back into play. In reality, every day is Halloween for me, but there's something about the crisp smell of autumn leaves, the stench of roasting pecans and sumptuous pumpkin pie that makes me spiral into a frenzy of wistfullness and quiet joy. You can't achieve the autumn effect in the middle of July when it's sweltering outside, and people are walking around in shorts and hot pants. ick.

Black cats, spiders, bats and pumpkins, spooky ghosts and costumes galore. I am reminded time and time again that Halloween is the one BIG day, where everyone gets to be someone else for awhile...Don the masks, literally, and lose themselves in a world far, far-reaching from their own.

Maybe this is an extension of the human psyche, wanting to experience something more? Whatever the case, I think it's a wonderful time period and a reminder to live your life to the fullest, 'cuz each day might be your last.

I'm inspired by...

Bags. Lots of them. My most prized bags consist of everything --from my tutti-edition tokidoki, to my harajuku girls satchel, an embroidered dior saddlebag to a murakami lv, a craig morrison spiked messenger to a buttery soft balenciaga le dix...

indulgent? absolutely...but it's those rare moments in time that every now and then I reward myself with something that speaks of total indulgence and unbridaled flare. It's no wonder that cute purses have always inspired me and have contributed greatly to my creative palette.

take this bag for instance from asia jam:



something went all goofy inside when I saw it, and a million visions of purse-charm possibilities came roaring into my brain. At $22.00, I think it's a steal. Kelly wants some shoes? fine. Just gimme some more bags, betch!

For Natasha....

Every once in awhile you meet someone who has a creative spark who is vibrant and full of energy, because they love what they are doing, and what they are creating. That energy rubs off like glitter that gets everywhere, and those little specks make you feel all sparkly inside. You become painfully aware at how they linger for a long while after, --on your clothes, on your hair, on your arms, on your nose...but you can't shake it, that sparkly stuff...it sticks like a glue that only comes off with excessive rubbing...

That's kinda how I felt when I met Natasha Epperson. She's totally unique, cool and creative and completely loves what she's doing and what she does best: photography.

It was no wonder, I was honored to make this for her, at her request:

For all you 'girls on film' out there, be thankful that someone can capture your essence in a single snapshot...the only price you pay? ---your soul... muwhaha>:)

Rainy Days and Deadbeats

The two seem to fit together like a hand and glove...I don't know what the deal is lately, but I've run into a couple of snags with some non-paying buyers which really gets my blood boiling. The time, effort, attention spent in creating my guys is not something I take lightly. This is my 'craft' hobby on the side, but as a serious artist, I take pride in everything I create, so when someone stiffs me or disregards this through non-payment or other lame accounts, it literally feels like a giant boot is stomping on the hours of work I spent. I don't think people realize how many artists and craftsmen out there are literally suffering for their art. No, its not just a fashionable jargon-statement of the artworld. It's friggin true. Yeah, venting feels good....

On the silver-lining side of the dark, stormy cloud, I completed another wholesale order today :


PB & J, and melted buttered toasts. Plus 8 little milk cartons, which I didn't include in this pic. These were a lot of fun --the realization is finally crystallizing within me, at the absurdity of how amused I am with my polymer food. I don't know what it is, but whenever I stare at that winking fried egg, I get all giddy inside...

MONSTER CHARMS

I love Halloween....Halloween is one of those time periods where the month of October feels like it's never long enough...the leaves have turned their autumn colors, the air starts to smell of fall and november coming fires...Each year is unique, and each year has me giddy with excitement thinking about raiding the pharmacies, department stores, craft lobbies and targets for all the spooky goodies that come out for the season. It's no wonder I was inspired to make these monster charms. They're like my little buds --each with a unique personality. Some friends were over the other day and started inquiring about them. I noticed my hand protectively cupping them on the kitchen table.....maybe I need to get out more...?

Custom

Custom orders are great. There's a really amazing insight into someone's personality that you get, when they make a special request. For instance, our lady of Guadalupe in a black and hot pink color scheme with lots o' skulls. This was a special purse charm for my friend Carol who definitely has unique tastes in addition to being a kickass hairstylist...I especially liked adding the little rhinestones. Lady Guadalupe as a goth girl? It certainly turned out that way. She looks better, in my opinion...

October 28th - The Second Round

So this month has been a flurry of activity --it started out with vending Komodokat stuff for the first time at my friend's local goth night in Houston and what an amazing success! Saw lots of familiar faces and not so familiar faces --interesting purchases/requests that really got my inspiration juices flowing...

Next time I will be vending on October 28th so here's hoping this time will be just as fun as last, if not better!

Incidentally, my partner in crime will be on tour throughout this month as a fill-in for 80s band Red Flag. How many people on here remember 'Russian Radio'? I'm still in shock at the weirdness of it all!

Here's to a fun-filled October! :)