Dia de los Muertos, L.A. Style

In the land of make-believe, nobody does Halloween like L.A. (sorry, NYC, you're a close second).  Sure, there are all the parties and the costume parades, not to mention house decorations taken to the next level.  However, one of the most intriguing and surreal events doesn't actually celebrate Halloween at all, but the day after: Dia de los Muertos in Hollywood Forever Cemetery.  Day of the Dead is celebrated on November 1 (also known as All Saints Day) and November 2 (All Souls Day).  It is a traditional Mexican holiday to pray for and remember those who have passed in the previous year.  Family members and loved ones create altars with pictures and sweets and flowers, and anything that is a reminder of them.

Hollywood Forever Cemetery (final resting place to such celebrities as Cecil B. DeMille, Jane Mansfield, Joey Ramone, and Rudolf Valentino), hosts the Dia de los Muertos in L.A.  People set up altars along the walkways and Mexican bands play in multiple areas around the grounds.  There is an art exhibition in the mausoleum and vendors of traditional Mexican food (and Margaritas!).

Most of the photos I took are without flash--to capture the haunting atmosphere and appreciate the lighting and candles.  I didn't have a tri-pod so some of the pictures are blurred.

The altars.

This one was really blurry, but it is the "Rainbow Bridge".  Anybody who has lost a beloved pet has probably heard of this.  There is a picture of a cat in the foreground and at the top of the rainbow are toy kitties.

Trippy.  This was at the entrance to the mausoleum.  The lights kept changing color and it was a slow exposure--I was curious to how it would come out in a photo.

This is part of the art exhibit inside the mausoleum--I love the crypts with names and dates on them.

One of the bands playing in the mausoleum.  The light colors kept changing here too.  I love the person in the middle of the stage--looks like a spirit.

This is an altar and candles floating in a pond outside a different mausoleum.

One of the party costumes.

Speaking of parties...we started the night out with ghoulish cocktails at my friend Sherri's house.  She made a Pomegranate Martini with worms.

And a Classic Martini with eyeballs (radish stuffed with blue cheese and olive).

Of course, it's not a cocktail without a themed cocktail napkin!  Included also, a side of burrata mixed with sun-dried tomatoes.

Happy Halloween!!!  Feliz Dia de los Muertos!

Stylin': 1960's Dashing Panache

If you haven't seen or heard of the gorgeous styling on Mad Men then you probably haven't been on this planet for very long.  The biggest star of the show is the fashion of the early 1960's.  This is the stage of that turbulent decade that brought you the beauty and elegance of Jackie O. and the class and style of Audrey Hepburn along with her exquisite fashions in Breakfast at Tiffany's and Roman Holiday.  It has inspired many a design collection since and made vintage fashion from that era so valuable and timeless.

I was so happy to see this still on AMC's website.  When I saw this scene I thought what perfection!  The color combinations, styling and even their staging led to such a divine composition.

As a fellow red head, I just love how they use fabric colors to compliment her hair.

Jackie O. personifies the fashion of these times.

This is from a story by the Smithsonian Magazine.

A fashion story from the early 60's wouldn't be complete without Audrey Hepburn.  I love the arm bracelet--not to mention her tiny waist!

And of course the ever iconic yet always inspiring image from Breakfast at Tiffany's.

Here is the 1960's outfit I put together: Dress with matching jacket at GumbyGirl, leaf brooch, pearl earrings, pearl handbag, kitten heals, gloves with flower details, and cigarette holder.  All items are early 1960's vintage.  Click on the highlight for links to their websites.

Adult Beverage of the Month (A.B.O.M.): The Classic Bloody Mary

There's nothing like a Bloody for a Sunday afternoon brunch.  Since this is both my birthday month and my anniversary--with plenty of celebrating--I thought this the perfect time to start off with my Bloody series.  There are so many variations of this drink, between the types of liquor to use and the many different combinations of ingredients.  However, I'm starting off here with the Classic.  The measurements are all to your personal taste.

The 2 main ingredients: vodka and tomato juice.  I like to use Stoli's regular, but the lemon or pepper flavored vodkas work as well.

Pour a shot of vodka into a highball glass filled with ice.

Fill glass with tomato juice.

Now come the fun ingredients.

Add a dash each of celery salt, ground black pepper and Tabasco sauce.

Add 2-4 dashes of Worcestershire sauce.

Add 1/8 tsp. pure prepared horseradish.

Squeeze of lime.

Shake it up or stir it lazily.

You can be classic (celery) or creative (shrimp) with your garnishes.  These are some additional ideas. I like to use Tomolives--small green pickled tomatoes.

Cool cocktail napkins always add to your drinking pleasure.

Ahhhh.  Sit back, relax, read a book, or chat with friends.  Enjoy!

 

Led Zeppelin's Thank You

"If the sun refused to shine,

I would still be loving you.

Mountains crumble to the sea,

There would still be you and me."
 

Happy Anniversary, Kato.

 

This song is from their 1969 album Led Zeppelin II--before they made decent music videos.  The live versions on YouTube weren't very good-- but this song is all about the words and music.  So sit back and listen to the most beautiful love song written.

Beautiful Animals

I have been busy and unable to post much lately.  While working on a project, I designed a jaguar print.  I thought how beautiful these animals are.  Nature gave them striking coats--unfortunately humans have felt the need to take them as their own.  I don't want to get political in my blog (I'll leave that for Facebook!), but I just wanted to post a few pictures of how beautiful these animals are wearing their own coats.  I have pulled these pictures from various sources--the links are highlighted.

Having just drawn these, I can truly appreciate the flow and variation of the jaguar's spots.

The mighty tiger.  I love them so much (and my husband was born in the year of the tiger) I got a tiger tattoo.

The Zebra with it's black and white stripes makes such striking graphics.

Fellow red-head.  Love his bushy tail (left on his body!). Flickr

I thought I would include another picture of a fox, as attaching fox tails to pants pockets and bags has become a truly unfortunate fashion trend. Flickr

Beautiful, majestic Fell ponies.

Grace Jones: the Original Lady Gaga

Back before Lady Gaga was a gleam in her parents eyes, Grace Jones was part of the music, club and art scene.  The Jamaican-born singer, model and actress became known for her outrageous style and stunning, androgynous looks.  She started in on the emerging New Wave music scene in the late 70's and early 80's.

This was probably her most famous and iconic photo and album cover.

Slave to the rhythm.  Aren't we all.

So other-worldly.

 She reach cult status in movies like Conan the Destroyer.

And my personal favorite: Mayday in the James Bond flick A View to A Kill.  What an amazing outfit!!  Complete with atomic bomb.

 

Here with Christopher Walken.  I loved this scene for all the great 80's fashion and beauty.

And here she is in Vamp.  WAY before the twilight series...

Just gorgeously extreme.

And totally out-Gagas Gaga.

80's Art Scene: Michael Clark Dance

The dancer and choreographer Michael Clark emerged from the 80's punk and post-punk art scene.  Part dance, part performance art, part fashion, he took dance to a new level of creativity.  That usually also means his work wasn't without controversy (I had to edit down some of this content).  He was born in Aberdeen Scotland and started dancing at age 4.  He studied classical dance at the Royal Ballet School in London.  In 1984 he formed his own dance company where he collaborated with, among others, the fashion designers Bodymap, the artist Leigh Bowery (who also designed some of his costumes) and the music group The Fall.  It's inspiring to research people who seemingly were placed here on earth to push the limits of art and life.

I love these colors!  I don't know what this is from, but his costumes always have some sort of visual impact.

This is from a show he did at London's Barbican called "I Do".  The wedding dress is based on a design by Yves Saint Laurent from 1965.

The wedding dress.  Who knew YSL was so avant garde?

This is from his website so it might be more current, but you see the 80's influence.

Simple, but striking.

The costumes enhance the lines of the dancers.

 

 This is his "Dance 1" from a PBS series.  The costumes are just so extreme 80's.

 

 

"Dance 3".  This is a little trippier but has some great images. 

 

(This is my first time posting videos, so I hope they work!)

There are many more of his videos on YouTube.  You should also check out his website.  He is still working and creating.