Saturday, February 28, 2009

Owls are Everywhere! Questionetc. introduces the Owl Plushy!

Questionetc. would like to introduce the newest addition to our family! No, it's not another fashion accessory, but a cute little owl plushy, instead! He is so cute and could definitely been seen as a fashion accessory for your child, though! :D Soft and cuddly and wide eyed, his wings flap and feet waddle...and he's sure to be a hit with your child! One day, as I awoke and was laying in bed...this image of the owl came to me, so I set about that day to realize my vision. This is what resulted! I will be making more very soon to add to the family! Keep an eye out in my etsy shop: www.questionetc.etsy.com



p.s. This is a page from my new promo catalogue. Let me know if you would like a copy for yourself and I'd be happy to send one to you. :D Thanks for visiting!

Thursday, February 26, 2009

The Melodian's to perform in Berkeley March 19th!

Hey Friends!
I'm back with an exciting announcement...The Melodian's will be playing at Ashkenaz in Berkeley on March 19th! My friend and DJ extraordinaire, Adam of Revival Sound System, will be spinning original Ska, Rocksteady and Early Reggae 45s as part of the show. Come out to support my man Adam and another one of Jamaica's golden performers, The Melodian's!



The Melodian's are perhaps best known for their song contributions to the movie, The Harder They Come, starring Jimmy Cliff. Rivers of Babylon and Sweet Sensation were 2 of the hit songs that helped make the movie so memorable. While these are both great songs, I've gotta say, "It's My Delight" (1969) is probably one of my favorite songs in their repertoir. Take a listen:



Hope you enjoy and perhaps I'll see ya on the dancefloor on the 19th!

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Dark Matter of Fact, new solo exhibit from Christine Nguyen!

Hey, ho, whaddya know?! My good friend, Christine, is about to open a new solo exhibition of her artwork at the Angels Gate Cultural Center in San Pedro, CA (part of the greater Los Angeles basin). I have known her for many, many years and she's always been an inspiration! Her work is so unique and magical and wonderful...you've gotta check it out! www.lephant.com



This is what the press release has to say:
"Christine Nguyen: Dark Matter of Fact is the artist's second solo exhibition at the Center. In 2002, while still an undergraduate, Christine exhibited a body of early photo-based work in the Center's project space. Since that initial exhibition her work has exploded in complexity, composition and technique, building on the solid foundation of experimentalism and fantastic imagery found in her early works."

And her Artist Statement:

"My work draws upon the imagery of science, but it is not limited to technologies of the present. It imagines that the depths of the ocean reach into outer space, that through an organic prism, vision can fluctuate between the micro- and macroscopic. I have been developing a personal cosmology in which commonalities among species, forms, and environment become visible and expressive, suggesting past narratives and possible futures. The forms and environs in my work sometimes migrate into new pieces, establishing new systems. These systems imagine modes of transportation, communication, and regeneration. There are no waste materials in these worlds: vision is a renewable resource.

My recent work has been "photo-based", in that it combines drawing and photographic processes. "Negatives" are drawn on layers of Mylar, which are projected onto light-sensitive paper. The paper is developed in a color processor, creating a camera-less, photographic image. In addition to watercolor and ink, I use materials such as saltwater, seaweed, coral, minerals, and crystals to manipulate the "negative" and the print. The total process is similar to that of making a photogram."

- Christine Nguyen, 2009

Info for the show and Angels Gate:
February 28 - April 12, 2009
Opening Reception: Saturday, February 28, 2-4 pm
Gallery Hours: Tues - Sun, 10 am - 5 pm

Angels Gate Cultural Center is located at:
3601 South Gaffey Street
San Pedro, CA 90731
310-519-0936
http://www.angelsgateart.org/visiting.html


In October of 2008, she spent a month at the Marin Headlands Center For The Arts. She had been nominated and chosen to recieve a stipend for the month to spend the time creating a body of work that would be shown at the end of the stay. I had the opportunity to visit her studio space and gaze upon all of her amazing creations! Included here are pics of her photo based work and of her salt crystalized plant matter that seems to have become a 3-D ingredient in her newest work. Enjoy!


Friday, February 20, 2009

A musical legend...Lee "Scratch" Perry!

So, in a turn toward fortunate experiences, tonight I will be partaking of two very amazing ones: first, Mr. Lee "Scratch" Perry will be performing and I get to see him live and in the flesh!; second, he will be performing at the newly restored and thoroughly ornate Oakland Fox Theatre in lovely downtown Oakland!

For reggae fans and fanatics, you will know of the legends of Mr. Perry. I can't wait to see (and hear!) his crazy show...I know it's gonna be a blast! He's been in the music business since the 1950's and has worked with all of the best, famous and otherwise infamous Jamaican & other musicians throughout his years. For more info, chek out the wiki file or his official website:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_%22Scratch%22_Perry
http://www.lee-perry.com/



This is fun and educational to watch:


And I can't forget the Oakland Fox Theatre! Take a look here to get an idea of the glory to be experienced with this decadent theatre:
http://www.foxoakland.org/

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Bust magazine Product Showcase for April/May issue...

Hello Friends!
I just submitted an ad for the Bust Magazine Product Showcase for their April/May Music issue, featuring Lily Allen! Keep an eye out for Questionetc. Handmade Fashion Accessories!



Also, if you like Birdy, keep an eye out in my etsy shop...I will soon be posting a variety of colors and configurations in brooches, hairclips and combs!

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Oh...and I can't forget about film!

I came across this film last night while I was browsing on Netflix, "Mio fratello รจ figlio unico" or "My Brother Is An Only Child" (2007). Lucky me it was an instant watch and it offered a bit of what I've been craving in film lately, romance, a meaningful storyline and interesting details. Set in Italy in the 60s & early 70s, it's a great piece about the struggles & conflicts of 2 brothers, family & politics of the time. I thoroughly enjoyed it and if you're interested, here's the trailer. Perhaps you will enjoy it as well!

A couple of things for today's post...musical & crafty!

On the crafty side of things, my friend has recommended this blog to me on several different occassions. The Design Sponge: www.designspongeonline.com/2009
Take a look here for a pretty fun party idea!:
http://www.designspongeonline.com/2009/02/diy-project-kates-vintage-wine-clips.html




AND!...One more bit of info/recommendation I garnered from hanging out with my bro recently...The Mizell brothers, Larry & Fonce. This is what The Allmusic blog has to say about them:
"The sibling duo of Larry and Alphonso "Fonce" Mizell revolutionized the sound and shape of jazz-funk—fusing the commercial sensibilities of Motown with the virtuoso musicianship of the Blue Note stable, the brothers (collaborating under their Sky High Productions aegis) produced a series of now-classic LPs of uncommon beauty and elegance, characterized by soaring horns, cosmic synths, celestial string arrangements and sublime rhythms."

To read the rest of the biography, take a look here:
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:azfqxq8sldte~T1

...and here's a taste of their work:


If you like hip hop, you will most likely recognize some of the samples that were borrowed from songs that the Mizell bro's helped to create.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

One more thing...

...I also had this blog to assist me in finding some of the music I shared in the last post. It's called Feel It! So, take a look and see what kind of musical lessons you can take home with ya!
www.darcysfeelit.blogspot.com/2008_08_01_archive.html

Darcy, the blog owner, offers quite the amazing bit of info/insight on some pretty obscure musicians, as well as some we all know quite well...but either way, the blog is definitely worth a view if you love music!

Recent musical discoveries!

I mentioned in a previous post that my bro recently came to visit. As a fellow music lover, we had a blast taking the tour of a few of our local record stores and I had fun being overwhelmed by the amount of musical knowledge he has to offer...record shopping with him is also quite a HUGE music lesson! Whew! Wipe that sweat off the brow! Anyway, he recommended this band, Cymande...I'm really digging 'em, especially this song:


And for a pretty cool mix, take a listen to this Jurassic 5/Nightmares on Wax/Cymande - Linguistics on the Slide Mash-up I came across on YouTube, incorporating the above song. I'm honestly not usually one to like remakes of any original anything, but this dude combined a couple of my fave musical artists to come up with this successful tune. Check it here:


He also made me a bit more hip to The Yardbirds...where've I been??!! The following clip is a bit from the 1966 flick Blow Up by Michelangelo Antonioni. It features perhaps the first notable guitar smashing scene that became such a legendary thing for future bands, such as The Clash (see cover of London Calling)


And here are a couple of tunes I came across during one of my YouTube forays:
Chris Bartley- Gotta Tell Somebody (About My Baby)


Dee Edwards - Why Can't There Be Love


and this one, thanks to both my friend and my bro, for introducing me to Gloria Scott:


Hope you enjoy my musical foray for the night!

Monday, February 16, 2009

Some Things I find Interesting...

Over the weekend I watched quite a few programs on the local PBS station. One of which was a special devoted to Mike Douglas, host of one of the most ground breaking talk shows of the 20th Century. I found him to be quite fun and inspiring to watch and spent some time on YouTube watching clips of his show. Notable guest(s) John Lennon & Yoko Ono offered an amazing bit, while they support one of Rock & Roll's legends, Chuck Berry on stage.

**Plus, you gotta check out Chuck's kicks & the shirt sleeves dripping with fringe! Pretty cool!

If you'd like to know about Mike Doughlas and his show, you can find more info about him here: http://www.themikedouglasshow.com/

AND!...my brother came to visit me a few weeks back and we got to talking about shows we loved as kids and he reminded me about "Mad Monster Party?"...do you remember this one?! Why don't they make things like this anymore????!!!!


I think the closest to this might be Coraline (and in retrospect, Nightmare Before Christmas), which seems pretty enchanting. :D


But somehow still not the same!

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Zombies are coming!!! Look out!

Some hackers had the good fortune of being able to pull a joke on many unsuspecting drivers in their early morning commutes. Check it out!


Reading about this and watching the clip reminded me how much I thoroughly enjoy zombie movies, especially the ones from the 80s or before! This would include "The Return of the Living Dead" & "Day of the Dead (both 1985), "Dawn of the Dead" (1978), "Night of the Living Dead" (1968)...well, you get the picture. I don't really go for remakes of any movie and this definitely goes for these flicks too. I must say I did enjoy "Shaun of the Dead" quite a bit and "28 Days Later" was pretty good too, and these are both newer. For a slight twist on the zombie genre, you've gotta look up some old Hong Kong flicks, such as "Mr. Zombie" & "Haunted Cop Shop I/II" which are technically considered 'Vampires', but seem like more of a vampire/zombie cross breed. You've gotta see for yourself to see what I mean!


For a bit more in depth details about Haunted Cop Shop, check here:
http://www.lovehkfilm.com/reviews/haunted_cop_shop.htm

Enjoy!

Unusual observation for the day...

...so, in reading over the MSN news page this morning, I came across this headline: "Wife pleads guilty in death-by-exercise case". HUH????! So, I had to click on it and read the story...

"Cops say video shows her pulling 73-year-old man around in swimming pool". Apparently, this woman, age 41, was pulling her husband, age 73, around in the pool and not letting him rest. He later died of a heart attack. What a crazy story and such a terrible thing to read about. For more crazy twists, you should read the article.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29195978/?GT1=43001

And, as an aside, while we're in the line of unusual observations, if you have not seen Joaquin Phoenix on Letterman's Late Show this past week, it's worth a viewing:

Happy 50th Birthday, BARBIE!

Yes, 2009 marks the 50th birthday of America's favorite fashion doll! Barbie Millicent Roberts turns 50 this year! Congratulations and a very Happy Birthday to you!
Barbie in 1959Barbie 1959

and Barbie's 50th Anniversary edition 2009
barbie 2009

In honor of her 50th, there was a most amazing fashion show at Bryant Park's NY fashion week. "Fifty designers, including Vera Wang, Betsey Johnson, Donna Karan, Calvin Klein, Carmen Marc Valvo and Marchesa, all created special looks for everyone's favorite fashion icon." For an article about the show and photos, take a look here: http://lifestyle.msn.com/your-look/fashion-week/article.aspx?cp-documentid=17839530>1=32013

Barbie has meant many things to me throughout the years, a fantasy land of fashion, trips in the Barbie motorhome, parties in the Dream House, concerts with the Rockers...so many experiences lived out with friends and our dolls. My mom made me some really amazing clothes from official Barbie patterns from the 60s (which I still have, BTW!). When I was learning to crochet, I made orange crochet ponchos for my dolls. And when I finally got too old to play with them, they became a collection and then it was the hunt for the old ones from the 60s and early 70s. The details put into the clothing from 1959 thru to the early 70s was just amazing! Lined with satin, real zippers and buttons, quality fabrics...they were made as if for a real person, only in miniature! Quite impressive!!!

A couple of years ago, I decided to sell off the majority of my collection, because I wanted them to go to someone who would enjoy them more than I was...I felt that it was a shame that they were packed up in boxes and not on display to be enjoyed and played with...so, off they went to new homes, thanks to eBay. :D I did keep a big red trunk full of the dolls and clothes that I played with as a child. Those were too personal for me to part with!

I think Barbie is an amazing doll...to have stood the test of time and to be celebrating 50 years of existence says so much about Mattel and the many creative people who have worked on the Barbie & family dolls all these years. Always at the forefront of fashion and trends, I think she will be around for many more years to come! Congrats and Happy Birthday Ms. Roberts!

For pics of dolls from the '09 collection, take a look here: http://www.angelicdreamz.com/store/Barbie_2009.html

For a bit on the history of the doll (& links to shopping, news & events) take a look here: http://barbiestyle.barbie.com/history.html
and here:
http://groups.msn.com/barbiessecret/thehistoryofbarbie.msnw

And Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbie

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Still here...

...okay, so this time an entire season has slipped through my fingers without me even really realizing it. Whew! Not that you all are so anxious for a post from me, but here goes:

First of all, I'd like to wish everyone a very Groovy Valentine's Day!
Photobucket

I've recently been working hard at putting together a promo catalogue for the Questionetc. Handmade Fashion Accessories collection. Here's a couple of the sample pages:

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

In addition to this, I have posted a slew of new items in my etsy shop and will be posting more over the next week...please visit! http://www.questionetc.etsy.com/

Etsy
Buy Handmade
Questionetc

Since last you've heard from me, I've been invited to join the Ace's High Rhythm & Soul Society DJ crew! Springtime will be our debut and if you're in the San Francisco area, keep an eye out! To stay on the track for our upcoming events, check in or sign up with us here: www.myspace.com/aceshighrythmandsoul
Photobucket

And one final notice...if you're into classic reggae tunes of the Original Skinhead era from '69-'73, you've gotta visit Mad Dog in the Fog for it's monthy DJ 'do, WAKE THE TOWN! Three of S.F.s top selectors, Bryan Martin, Shawn from the old Upsetter and Mr. Ryha, along with top notch guest DJ's, throw down the boss tunes every first Saturday of the month! Come join us March 7th!!!
Photobucket

...and as an aside, if you're in need of a flyer or other graphic design creation and like what you see with my Wake the Town flyer and the Questionetc. catalogue , feel free to send me a message. I'd love to hear from you!!!

Until next time, have a wonderful weekend and stay warm and dry where ever you are! Cheers!!!