Happy Teacher’s Day! If only that meant we didn’t have to go to work, off with pay or something!
Monday, September 28th, 2009
Shirt/dress – Ximen (no label)
leggings – Rice Society
Close up on the iron on metal studs:
The Rice Society leggings were first shown on Alita, of Rock In Hose, photo by Abe Sitzer:
These will not be available at HuaShan, but if you want them, I can do a custom one for you in your size – better than way anyway!
So I put on this outfit to go to FLY, Taipei’s newest afterparty, which started at 4 a.m.
Sunday, September 27th, 2009
Playsuit/Romper – Solemio (bought at a Consignment store in Berkeley)
This outfit carried me through all the way into Sunday night. No, no, not what you’re thinking. I didn’t sleep in it, and I didn’t stay up all night. But I did wear it like pajamas all day Sunday cuz I was at Justin’s and had nothing else with me. He just got a projector! Um hello TV screen as big as the wall. He might me seeing me a little more often….
Saturday, September 26th, 2009
High-waisted skirt/dress – Rice Society
snake necklace – San Fran
Beetle – DIY with a cord (RS)
tube top – Bangkok street vendor
sandals – WuFanPu (Smisun) **I can take you there for Size 40**
The skirt is made from 2-way stretch spandex. Uber comfortable! You can hike it up over your breasts and add a belt to make it into a dress. The black one looks fierce and it also comes in hot pink too. I shall have to name it Olivia, for that is who requested this design.
Gonna be for sale at HuaShan. If you need a bigger size and you can’t fit into my Taiwanese proportions, please message me and I’ll do a custom job for you!
I went to HuaShan on Sat. to confirm my table and check out how White Label was organizing things. Originally I wanted to sell this weekend, but for some reason, the dude in charge said it wasn’t allowed. But I was pleased to see many of the same sellers I met the first 2 times.
UNfortunately, they informed me that my first weekend to start selling, Oct 3/4th, was postponed (canceled) because of Mid-Autumn (aka Moon) Festival. The organizer thought most people, including other sellers, would want to take this weekend to par-take in the BBQ tradition and be together with their families.
Fair enough, but thanks for calling to inform me. Good thing I happened to swing by and hear about the news. I wouldn’t have been too happy to find out that morning, or only a few days before. Confirmed dates are at the bottom of this post.
The crowd on Sat, however, was the largest I’ve seen so far, and so full of awesome new people!
These peeps were all watching/listening to an incredible violin musician. Such a nice change to have classical music at the venue instead of the usual up and coming but not that appealing hodgepodge of bands.
Met up with Kiah and decided to make some new friends with our fellow-to-be-sellers.
This dude, Steven (Moonkey) was making these awesome handmade key chains or key covers (and rings!) out of glass (or resin? plastic?) tiles with a custom picture on the bottom.
*Correction** – He sells tailor-made rings or a key chain for only 200 NT, and a key cover also only 250 NT.
I might order 10 custom ones with my logo, 米 inside. Steven said, he can do it on the spot with a picture you have (just smaller than 1″ squared) or you can email him and he can do it. If you want 10, it would take about 3-5 days.
Another cool thing was that they were all glow-in-the-dark. Steven was all too quick to show this off, as he had set up a lamp to prove it. (I have no idea how he got power on a mat on the grass, but props to dragging the extension cord!) He could speak English and Chinese, and was an interesting character to talk to. If you want to inquire about his product, please email Steven: dingli168@gmail.com
Pictured here with his friend and neighbor seller, wearing her custom made mask (Have I seen these somewhere before?):
She had some self designed glow-in-the-dark rings, but I didn’t get her real name, only K82 on her sign:
Not too far away was this cool chick(on the left), although I really should’ve gotten her picture before she was handed her noodle dinner. Sorry, girl.
She said she’s part of the collective KIDZ AT T DISCO, and they have a party coming up n HsinJu. Their slogan is “We make things happen.” I got a free sticker too. Check out their blog, they got some posts of interest, and some music vids too. Pretty Sure she’s one of Jo’s friends (of Pet Shops Girl) If you haven’t clicked any links on here, these are the two to click. Excellent display of brave Taiwanese style!
This is the purse I bought from her. It’s actual thick rough leather, painted on the outside only. (The inside is grey.)
Did it come from Bangkok? Some people think so…they say the same company also makes leather bracelets that snap on. Hmmm
It didn’t come with a strap and she told me I had to add my own. The strap in the picture I found over at the Shadow booth:
These two were fun to talk to. I’ve seen them before, set up in the Red House Theater market in Ximen. I like Shadow because it has a really strong brand identity, and the cut-outs are cool. I first saw them maybe 1 or 2 years ago. About half or more of the designs are the same. An experienced seller told me it’s smart to sell what’s selling, so they must be doing something right! I’m looking forward to seeing them in October!
If you want more of their stuff (necklaces, phone charms, straps, & more) you can email them at: shadowboss_inc@yahoo.com.tw or go on Yahoo Auctions, but only in Chinese, sorry foreigners! Just scroll to the bottom of their Yahoo page to see their products and prices in $NTD.
On our grand tour around all of the tables, booths, and blankets on the grass, we came by these two lovely young lads, of FUCK BARBIE:
They made hand-made jewelry. I thought they had a creative point of view, and I really liked the styling of their suitcases. (Gotta get me one of those!) They had towering cake rings, little zippered change purses with stenciled cameras, metal/resin? collages as necklace pendants (like a picture of Mary with a Picasso face holding an AK47 with the words, I am NOT your Mother across the top), huge plastic jewels and real Barbie dolls, bunch more stuff. They are also selling on Yahoo Auctions, (although when I check they didn’t have anything listed), as well as XinMen Ding (in the Red Theater). If you wanna inquire, email janwa93@yahoo.com.tw.
Here’s Kiah with Mr.Still-Don’t-Know-Your-Name-But You’re-Pleasant Guy. Both rocking the Rice Society necklaces.
I was sad to leave around 5, just when it was starting to get good. I heard the crowd for the bands was intense, so many people there.
Words through the grapevine about selling there:
*Don’t be sitting out in the sun the whole day. It’s fucking hot and that makes you tired.
*It’s the cheap-o gimme a deal or I’ll walk crowd. Low prices make the sale, more expensive items, almost no interest.
Things Kiah and I realized after doing the rounds and scoping everyone’s booth:
*Color and branding are the two major draws to any booth. Others just blended in.
*Sign/banner is a must
*Don’t block yourself in with you on one side, customers on the other.
*Have a mirror!
It’s super easy to tell which people selling there took their business seriously and professionally, and those just out to do their best (low-quality) efforts. It makes a real difference when you take the extra step in quality, instead of just choosing the cheapest materials to complete your project. There were some accessories I would’ve bought, had I not noticed the sloppy glue job, or that they used really low-quality material. It’s that extra little care and attention that makes the purchase worthwhile.
HUASHAN CONFIRMED DATES:
Oct 10/11
Oct 17/18
Oct 24/25
Oct 31/Nov 1
Nov 7/8
Love me some Friday. I was waiting for the weather to cool off to be able to wear this dress:
Friday, September 25th, 2009
nurse’s uniform – Crow’s Nest Pass, Alberta – Women In Need 2nd Hand Shop
silk scarf used as belt – Salvation Army in Drumheller, Alberta
bracelets – blue one from Jungli Nightmarket, other random silver ones from Ximen
feather earrings – Rice Society
Shoes – Aldo
The above pic was taken on my bicycle in front of my house. It says 慢 ‘man’ on the road which means SLOW in Mandarin. The heels are in my top 3, and oh so high. I gotta remember not to stand by Lisa.
The nurse dress is actually a legit uniform. It features the snaps in the back and it’s that same white lab coat fabric (think thicker cotton that could also be used as nice cloth napkins). It surprisingly has 2 darts front and back at the waist for a better fit.
Justin asked me to play dead at Dom’s house.
I did not part take in Friday night activities. Justin & I had a fabulous dinner at Primo, the old Mr.Cheese off Daan. Best pizza in the city he says. You must try, but make a rezzo otherwise you might have to wait a while. You can read more about it on Hungry Girl’s Blog.
So sorry for the slow update. I’ve been busy yo! Here is the quarter way though outfit. Damn I wish it was epic and not my “anything-black-cuz-I-don’t-wanna-go-to-work-today” outfit.
Thursday, September 24th, 2009
Sheesh Thursday was a long day. You’d think remembering to take a picture of yourself every day wouldn’t be a mission, but lately I’ve been forgetting til I’m at home, alne and have to get a shot somehow.
A better pic than that one:
Skirt – no label, gift from Lori (ancient)
Sewn on punk style is a Banksy stencil I cut out from a shirt
(I bought it at a clothing store I used to work at in Vancouver, ARK.)
The top is Illegal, from Wet Seal I believe. Orange tank top under is another ancient purchase from a consignment store in Van, Main St.
Earrings were a gift from Justin bought in LA, and the necklace Jeffery made, first worn on Day Five.
Got busy and made a new pattern in the morning. Cut the fabric, sewed it up and was almost late for work. Here’s how it tuned out:
Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009
shirt – Rice Society
skirt – Mango
necklace – Rice Society
The shirt and the necklace will be available at the HuaShan Flea Market (Starting Oct 3!!) I’m gonna do some different fabrics and maybe put a trim on the edge. I know the Revolver has been done done done and beat in the ground but I also think it’s classic. Have you heard that Madonna track with Lil Wayne, Revolver? Ya… that makes it okay. LISTEN TO IT HERE it’s fucking good. Madonna almost sounds like Keri Hilson, haha!
I found this amazing Alice In Wonderland type of art in Commons & Sense Mag – Autumn & Winter 2009 Issue. Masaru Shichinohe is Japanese and you can check out his website here.
All of his art feature the same young girl with a blunt bob and often has a rabbit (which made me think of Alice) and a moon.
CHECK IT::
A Moment
Syncronizm
Don't Kiss & Don't Tell
Moon Hunter
Bird of Velazquez
I Can Not Read
Night in Blue Velvet
Dark-haired Cynderella
More DIY shopping… can’t seem to get enough of what I need. This time shopping for things to help display all the things we’ve been working on for HuaShan. And some more feathers.
Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009
shirt/dress -Little Roman
necklace – scraps of other jewelry reassembled
capris – WuFanPu
The shirt has this weird side part that hangs off the side, it has a little pocket. Perfect for shoplifting spray paint! (ya, right!) I got it in WuFanPu at this cute little shop. I wish I could make a map of all the cool little stores I know there, cuz so many people I know get lost trying to find stuff there. It’s very logical actually, all the lanes have numbers and it’s in a grid. You just gotta remember what’s at the beginning of each lane on each side.
Oh Monday. HOT Monday.
Monday, September 21st, 2009
dress – bought at a charity sale in BKK
Was originally custom-made for Priminister Thaskin’s daughter (of Thailand)
Guess when the coop flew down on him, they had to make up some money somehow. Great score!
painting in back – “The True School” Xiao Xi Su (at Justin’s)
