jonesing for nankeen

I tried to revisit an old friend tonight,
the Chinese Printed Blue Nankeen Exhibition Hall.
I am hankering after their nankeen (hand-dyed, indigo fabrics).

Two springs ago, I made this skirt from the one piece of nankeen I purchased.
(If only I’d had the foresight to purchase 10 yards!)

It was lovely to work with, and smelled good when I cut it.
An entire collection is being worked out in my brain around nankeen.
It’s a traditional Chinese fabric, but for me it also perfectly captures the spirit of the “wild west” that is my home.
Nankeen was a fabric for the common people.
While the wealthy people wore silks and brocades (all those gorgeous shining cheongsam cherry blossoms!)
the “commoners” wore nankeen.

And you know what?
I rather prefer the nankeen.
There’s nothing “common” about fabric that was created with limited resources;
on the contrary, I think it’s all the more extraordinary.

BUT

I’ve got a problem.

1. The Chinese Printed Blue Nankeen Exhibition Hall does not have a website.

2. Nor do they have an email address.

3. They do have a phone number,
but I am afraid to call.
I don’t speak Mandarin (except for the survival basics).

Ideas??? Anybody? Bueller?
Should I just call?
(‘Yes,’ I can hear my husband’s voice droning. ‘What’s the worst thing that can happen?’)

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Until then, this video beautifully captures the museum. Enjoy.

peaky blinders, or how i spent my entire christmas

Cillian Murphy wearing British menswear, riding a black stallion in slow motion? Sign me up! I binge-watched Season 1 this weekend and took a pretty good bite out of Season 2.

fashion is danger

I love me some Flight of the Conchords, and this one’s about fashion! Thanks to Sadie, one of my 5th graders, for sending this to me. 🙂

how to tie a bowtie, courtesy of marriage equality

This is cute, and funny. My hubby uses it whenever he needs to tie a bow-tie. He’s been tying a bow-tie quite frequently lately, as he’s playing a character called “The Scorekeeper” in a local theatre production. (The Scorekeeper never leaves the house without his dapper bow-tie and cardigan.)

If you live in Seattle, my hubby will perform tonight at 11pm at Theatre Schmeatre (2125 3rd Ave. in Belltown).

bill murray sings bob dylan’s “shelter from the storm”

I get mesmerized by this video. Maybe it’s the Dylan song I never heard before that kinda makes me want to Commit To Bob Dylan. Or Bill Murray, who continues to be a completely unique person and fascinates me, and also said this amazing quote: “The more relaxed you are, the better you are at everything.” Or maybe it’s the photography, the whole video done in one shot that doesn’t move and captures the beauty of an ignored house.

i’m totally nerding out here

Holy smokes. I want to make all of these things.

I’ve discovered Oscar de la Renta a bit late in the game, I suppose. Now that I know it’s so very up-my-alley, I’ll be watching more videos in the weeks to come. Then I’ll pick my faves and put them on Pinterest and here on my blog, if you guys enjoy this. Does that sound fun to anybody besides this fashion nerd???

Sia – Chandelier (Official Video)

I am FASCINATED by this girl’s choreography and her commitment. Also, the costume design is really intelligent. And I really like the song and the lyrics. It’s about the singer’s struggle with childhood alcoholism. Which the girl’s dancing illustrates. Also, the photography is impressive (all one take through different rooms of an abandoned-looking house), the apartment looks real and oddly, darkly beautiful. All of it is oddly, darkly beautiful.

Photo shoot idea: a set or runway set that resembles the house on 40th Street.*

*40th Street: The house I grew up in from the age of maybe 6/7 years old to upperclassman in college. Would make an odd backdrop, as by today’s standards it would have been quite ugly. Originally had brown shag carpet wall to wall, orange terra cotta bricks around the fireplace, wood deck that became a slipping hazard every time it rained. My mom and dad (and then later my mom and stepdad) made a lot of changes to that house for the better. Wisteria on the front patio, exterior paint changed from peach/brown trim to stormy blue (a color I have, coincidentally, been fixated on lately for our home). Two cherry trees planted along the back fence, which, I discovered in senior year of HS, was a lovely place to do homework. Creepy back entrance sealed off and turned into a second bathroom (because why would you build a family home that only has one bathroom?).

Tove Lo – Habits (Stay High) Hippie Sabotage Remix

Oh, this is beautiful. She’s vulnerable but strong, at some sort of crossroads, trying to decide something big, chewing on it and coping with it and making the most of it, wringing the situation for all its fun because otherwise it sucks.

Jamie xx – Sleep Sound (Music Video)

I love watching the movement of this woman’s dress, how it diverts or conveys light, how lovely it looks on this particular woman.