Cycling up or UPcycling?

Tri-tri-tri a little harder

NEW ORLEANS, April 27th, 2010 - A three wheeled wonder from New Orleans has finally fulfilled one of humanity's greatest dreams, while also restoring hope to millions of Americans. The conceptual art world had claimed it was impossible, the bike community said it couldn't be done - but the mysteriously named 'Miss Karina', as she's known to her on-line friends proved everyone wrong when she finally discovered that it was in fact possible to turn a tricycle into a unicorn. With golden wheels, mane, horn and hooves, the unicorn trike was everything that pundits and fans alike were waiting for.
"That wrinkly, piece-of-s**t shark at the Met can lick my b**ls," said one on-line shopper. "This is what art fans have been waiting for. Did a Hirst installation ever transform my meaningless 9-5 existence into a sublime, life-altering, transcendent experience like this does? I don't f**kin' think so."
While Miss Karina was unavailable for comment, one of her assistants was on hand to inform us that "There are two pieces that can both be removed from the tricycle. The front piece can be removed and hung on a wall like a taxadermy deer or the like. The wings are on hinges so they can be out to the sides all the way or closer to the rider. There is a pretty large trunk that can smoothly be opened and closed. The bike runs surprisingly smooth. The back legs spin as you ride giving the effect that the unicorn is running. The eyes have lights in them that are LED tap lights. The structure is made from rebarb, chicken wire, papier mache, and spray (expandable) foam. This piece is designed to last forever if properly cared for."

"Tri-State Trekkin'" by Doodle and Hoob

Check them out here.

Lazy Mondays...

M and I went thrifting together today... First day off since Costa Rica, and I couldn't wait! First we hit up Goodwill Hunting, then off to Value Village-no-City! Glorious. The best thing about M is that even though she is a total babe who lives in mini-skirts and leather jackets - she's also this super-genius writer who just published a huge article about boosterism in Canadian art, which basically got Gary Michael Dault fired at the Globe and Mail.

So of course when I left her alone for two minutes (I was testing out the 3-deck Teenaged Mutant Ninja Turtles skateboard they had there) she was surrounded by dudes when I found her again. Too bad for them, M's first love is vintage hunting so off we went. (But not before someone generously offered to design the Deadly Nightshades a new logo.) It's funny how guys assume that because you're wearing a short skirt that you're gonna be slutty. Couldn't be further from the truth - but it would be nice if some dudes weren't so predictable all the time. Anyway, we found the most amazing pink and white mid-century lamp, tiny owls, tiger print scarves, pretty dresses, an embroidered giraffe pillow, vintage towels, a fur hat and cape and a sweater that says...


All in all it was a huge success. Can't wait to post pics of the pink lamp in the studio!!!

Welcome to the Place Where There is No World Crisis...

Inspiration

This is an amazing poster from a photo series CyclePassion out of the Netherlands. This is a poster of Sweden's Emilia Fahlin, a gorgeous pro cyclist.

Sun Shining on the Nightshades!

A few weeks ago, I was asked to send my Prom 2010 predictions to Heather Toskan at Sun Media. The girls I've been teaching are really into big volume and short hemlines, so I told her what I thought girls would be wearing this year. I also told her I thought that black was over but sequins and vintage are in. She writes:

Bury the black and stand out in shades of fuchsia, coral, turquoise, aqua, red, blue and gold. Celebs also know that vintage looks can also be the most unique....

...Many current prom dress trends draw largely on the styles of the 1980s with lacy, sequined and other glittering fabrics of the era.

“Fashion-forward girls are really into playing with volume right now, so the one shoulder might have a big ruffle or ‘80s pouf on it. Hem lines are getting shorter so it makes sense to have more happening at the shoulders,” says designer-seamstress Irene Stickney, of The Make Den, a vintage-inspired sewing studio in Toronto.

You can read the entire article here.

Make someone's day...?

Arielle lost all her sewing supplies because of the earthquake in Haiti. You can find out how to send her sewing notions in Haiti here.

Press Pass for The Make Den!

My Lady Gaga sewing workshop made it into the Star recently, and the PACT Prom classes that I'm teaching were in the Globe! You can read the full article here and here.

WOAH bike fees?

So although I am on the west coast, I have been very interested in the electoral stuff going on in the municipality of Toronto. I like municipal politics, they are much easier to participate in/see results. Not only that strong cities make strong countries. Back when I was a kid in Cabbage Town (before the yuppie parade moved in...), my mom was in a brunch club of sorts and so was Barbara Hall. So maybe it was me listening to local talk over scrambled eggs and juice that made me into the politico I am today.

There is hot debate on city infrastructure, and it is being focused on bike lanes. On his facebook Dave Meslin posted this great article "Bike fees: Misinformed, misguided and a step backwards for Toronto." He starts off by quoting this article in the Toronto Star "Bike lanes divide mayoral candidates" by Robyn Doolittle. Meslin, using straight up facts de-bunks some theories on rich, suburban car-owner vs. downtown poor biker. The bi-line is "Conflicting views emblematic of divide between right and left". Are they really? Or are politicians just making up lines so we can stand on sides? The bi-line got me thinking about one of my favourite TED Talks, "The Real Difference Between Liberals and Conservatives", and dives into the moral matrix behind this divide.



My favorite quote by Jonathan Haidt: "This tribal mentality is so deeply pleasurable, that even when we don't have tribes, we go ahead and make them." Or in our case we make a bicycle gang.