cut and paste

9:27 PM

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just when i thought i would have more time, my workplace scheduled me for nine days straight. i think my job is killing me. the salon has been pretty busy despite the horrible cold. the pressure to keep every cut under 18 minutes and keep my sales percentages up is wearing me down.
being a cutting robot is not easy, even robots wear their parts out.

somehow, i did manage to live through being at work every day for a week and a half. today, i was finally able work on some things i had been hoping to get to.
until i can develop a better life schedule, i have taken to smaller projects in order to soothe the need to work with my hands.

cutting things up means a lot to me. i spend my time at the salon cutting. i spend my time at home cutting graphics and fabric.
i really like the old cut and paste look from underground zines and band promotions that began in the 70's and 80's. i find myself always wanting to make patches with rough cut and paste graphics. i do love band patches.


...and...


i must consume about a gallon of coffee a day in order to remain upright long enough to work many hours a day.

the graphics, handwork and coffee have driven me to start sticking patches on insulated coffee cozies. i have found that the cozies fit my pint glasses, too.
i am one of those people who like the items i carry to look like they belong to me. like my coffee cup at work, i want it to feel like it is mine. i do not have time to carry a mug anymore but i can still throw these sleeves on the generic looking paper "to go" cups.

the insulated batting is a fabulous thing. i often squeeze it just to feel the way it works. in the miserable mid-west, a little insulation warming your fingers can really feel better than...better than...never mind...it feels good but not that good...*smirk*

as i get more chances to pull out my old graphics resources and doodle around in photoshop, i am hoping to develop a personal style. it would also be nice to develop a couple of different styles that mix well with my own first love. i have a ton of resources an artist who's estate sale i attended a few years back. she went on a trip to asia during the 1960's and collected a lot of ephemera as resources for her own work.
rough cut and paste looks can actually be a lot of work because of the sheer number of resources (or the created look of many resources) that need to come together for one graphic.
i hope this is a good track to run along and it will lead me to the right place.

koup

back to my roots...or fibers...

1:11 AM

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happy new year to you!

2009 - the foundations are set!
in another life, i used to be a co-owner of a B&M shop. due to relocation, major life changes and going back to school, i had to take a break.
i have been slowly and methodically rebuilding again. some of the behind the scenes projects that were keeping me from getting the blog up and running on a consistent basis are now complete. i can now begin to focus more on the communications side of internet shopkeeping. it feels so good to write and it will be nice to finally get to do more of it.

the old shop
gets better

there are many wonderful pieces left over from my B&M shop. i have been spending time looking over all the fun and pretty things which have been carefully stored away. my storefront was 1500 square feet. that is the sum total of my current living space. i have begun to make some tough decisions about what i can wear, store for historical purposes and display. the rest will be listed at koup on etsy.

i am also remembering how much work goes into selling vintage clothing. i love it but it is a major task. cleaning, pressing, measuring, inspecting yard after yard after yard...after yard...after yard...

today, i brought out a 1940's-50's nylon blouse/smock (see above). it has the cutest red saucer-shaped plastic buttons. there is an artist's palette on the tag with a pair of scissors. the finishing details on the cuffs, the colors and the "hand" (feel of the fabric) are quite good.


in addition, i brought out this beautiful silk jacket with the coolest buttons (see photo at right). it has a lot of amazing hand sewn details. what i love most about working with vintage clothing is turning it inside out to see the lovely little secrets, the time consuming detail and the quality construction that is so rare in our current wardrobes.

this weekend - i cannot wait to work on a fun 1960's car wash dress and some really wonderful purses. (around work hours at the salon and the usual chores at home).

it feels good to be back in vintageland even if i do feel like a mad hatter! thanks for stopping by!