Nice pants

Nice pants
Originally uploaded by killerfemme.

IP, a PDX and US expat now living in Halifax, NS, came down for the weekend for an art book fair and had the luck of catching the swap as well. She's shown here modeling a very special hat and showing off some pants which were sadly the wrong size and season for many. IP also me a copy of her latest book project, called DIY in HFX (do-it-yourself in Halifax). I have started reading it and it is really inspiring to read about the ways in which this community interprets the ideas and ethics of DIY. It has a different feel from IP's last book in this series "DIY in PDX" focusing on Portland, OR. That one seemed more indie rock and craft focused while this one feels like there's more focus on the environment and economy. I think it's interesting because of course it reflects the different cultures of the cities that it focuses on. I also felt more positive about the idea of DIY and realized that feeling inspired doesn't mean I'm young or naive and what's cool about feeling grumpy and hopeless anyways? I want to be open to and embrace inspiration to do, make and create more regularly and not feel like it's comprimising my critical outlook.

Assessing

Assessing
Originally uploaded by killerfemme.

Clothing swap or time for fancy stylists to find cheap new duds? S. takes finding the right pair of pants very seriously.

You looks like a scientist who tests...

You looks like a scientist who tests...
Originally uploaded by killerfemme.

More clothing swap fun. After clothes were tried and claimed, dress up began! K. tried to construct a "pretty in pink" type outfit, but F. had other ideas about what it looked like.

Clothing Swap Re-Cap

Jumpsuits...
Originally uploaded by killerfemme.

On Sunday LJ and I hosted a clothing swap and recipe exchange. So many of our friends came and brought clothes they were never able to incorporate into their wardrobes, love but don't wear or just want to get out of their lives. Among them was a Calvin Klein denim jumpsuit which E. said would be perfect for J. Here she is, making the outfit even more exciting with the addition of a pink tank top.

The Louse at Crash Mansion

The Louse at Crash Mansion
Originally uploaded by killerfemme.

I like this photo of The Louse because it almost manages to catch the fact that they really were rocking out and are quickly becoming one of my favorite bands to go out and see. Their songs are really tight and well done. It's hard to capture music in photos or in words really and I have to say I'm not a great rock writer or photographer, but well, that doesn't stop me from wanting to share the great bands I go see in the hopes that soon some small part of the world will know they are in fact, great, and go see them too.

Bottom Bracket at Crash Mansion

Bottom Bracket at Crash Mansion
Originally uploaded by killerfemme.

So apparently their set was all improvised with the idea of keeping each song to 3 minutes. However, there were vocals and everything sounded like a recognizable "song" to me. Pretty fucking amazing in my mind and totaly rockin'. If you want to know what kind of Bottom Bracket they are, well, you'll have to visit my myspace page... hopefully they'll be playing with Perils in the not-so-distant future. But seriously, this band is good and you don't have to be a bike or music nerd to enjoy them (though you're cooler if you're any kind of nerd at a rock show and at a show where bands of people who work in museums play, well, you know there will be a few nerds around). While I'm on a tangent about nerdiness, earlier that night I learned about Bronze Disease and how to stop it from an objects conservator. That's pretty fucking cool if you ask me.

Cafe Regular

Cafe Regular
Originally uploaded by killerfemme.

After a few months of neglecting this cafe O. and I had the same thought, "We haven't gone to cafe regular in a long time!" so we did on a Saturday morning before work (for me). Great coffee and good pastries and a tiny inside that reminds you of Paris picked up and moved to Brooklyn. On 11th street in Park Slope between 5th and 4th.

The Shondes as Brooklyn Lyceum

The Shondes as Brooklyn Lyceum
Originally uploaded by killerfemme.

Last Friday The Shondes played in the historic and cavernous Brooklyn Lyceum. Due to troubles with a rock show there the previous week (or something...) they had to keep the noise below 90 decibles, but they still sounded awesome, energetic and passionate and I could finally hear everything- violin, vocals, all of it! Visit their website at www.shondes.com for more information about their upcoming shows.

Talking to teens at Bookworks

Talking to teens at Bookworks
Originally uploaded by killerfemme.

One of the higlights of my time at Bookworks, besides seeing the show and a space where awesome people create beautiful things, was getting to talk to a group of teenage girls and their parents about making zines. I find it funny that wherever I go my Museum Educator skills are being put into practice, but I enjoy it. It was wonderful to talk about what it was like to start making a zine when I was the girls age in a rural place not unlike Asheville and where zine making has brought me. Even though I haven't made a personal zine in three years, I still really connected to zine making and the desire to create and share personal work with the hope of connecting with others and sharing ideas about changing the world (and yes, I really beleive that) . So the idea that I could encourage teenage girls to create a zine (or anything, really) was pretty intensely moving and fun as well. I should mention here that Bookworks offers zine making and other cool classes for teenagers as well as adults. At the closing of the show the teenagers in the zine making class will get to show off the zines they have made in the workshop. This is such a great idea because it adds to the conversation of zine making and combining zines and bookarts. Bring on the next generation of zinesters!

Zines by Sara Jaffe and Poster

Zines by Sara Jaffe and Poster
Originally uploaded by killerfemme.

Sara Jaffe's zines, with Amy Greenan's in the background, plus the beautiful show poster!

Indulgence and riffRAG #1

Indulgence and riffRAG #1
Originally uploaded by killerfemme.

Another view of some of my more recent zines. For a full view of the show and Bookworks as well as Emily, Sara, Molly and Amy's zines click on any of the Asheville photos to get to my flickr account where there is a slideshow!

Indulgence in Evolution of Cut and Paste

Indulgence in Evolution of Cut and Paste
Originally uploaded by killerfemme.

Emily K. Larned, of Red Charming, organized a small book arts show called "Evolution of Cut and Paste" at the Parsons Gimbell library in 2003 that showcased 4 lady zinesters turned bookartists, Sara Jaffe, Molly Kalkstein, Amy Greenan,herself and me! The second generation of this show just opened at Bookworks in Asheville, NC, brought there by the wonderful Bridget Elmer. Shown here are some of my zines and books that are in the show... I loved looking at the show again, it was just as vibrant and exciting as it was in 2003 and I think really showed how zines are still exciting in a digital age. Looking at Amy, Molly, Emily, Sara's and my work all together again in a space as exciting and condusive to creativity as Booworks really made me excited to make another issue of my personal zine, Indulgence, which I have been publishing since 1998. If you are in the Asheville area before December 15th, please stop by the show, it's truly unique and inspiring.

Italy and Blue Ridge Mountains

Italy and Blue Ridge Mountains
Originally uploaded by killerfemme.

I love the juxtaposition of this very classical looking sculpture against the Blue Ridge mountains, which are supposedly the oldest mountains in the world. It recalls some of the contradictions of the Biltmore estate... where you are and where it tries to take you.

Smile and say "North Carolina"

Smile and say "North Carolina"
Originally uploaded by killerfemme.

It's quite a mouthful to say in a photograph! This is on the back stairs of the Biltmore estate leading out in to the gardens. It really recalls Vaux Le Vicompte, which I visited in France this summer. In fact, some of the garden design and ideas for the rooms were lifted directly from there. The Biltmore estate transports you to another place entirely, but it's also a huge momument to capitalism and hierarchy.

Asheville Sidewalk

Sidwalk
Originally uploaded by killerfemme.

This past weekend took me to Asheville, North Carolina to visit LK, who used to have my job and B. who also used to live in Brooklyn and is now working at Bookworks, where the book and zine show Evolution of Cut and Paste is having a second go. I loved the trees, mountains and clean air of Asheville, as well as the relaxed pace and good food. It was nice to have a few days after a flurry of work just to walk around, talk with friends and take in a new place. It reminded me of Portland, Maine (the city closest to where I'm from) without the ocean or Portland, Oregon at least in terms of architecture. Click on this photo to get to flickr, where you can see a slideshow of all the lovely leaves, trees, the Biltmore estate and the zine show.

Chihuly at NYBG

Warm Color Pond and Conservatory
Originally uploaded by killerfemme.

I've been meaning to blog this since I went with O. two weeks ago for the last day of the Chihuly show at the New York Botanical Garden. At first I was skeptical, but it was actualy a really beautiful show and I loved how the glass and natural forms and colors interacted. It was kind of a cross between an easter egg hunt and walking tour and I loved the process of suprise and discovery. I also loved the excuse to walk around outside on a fairly chilly day. There's a whole slide show up on my flickr account, so you can see way more...

Halloween at Work

Brooklyn Museum Halloween
Originally uploaded by killerfemme.

My one concession to Halloween... taking this picture with "princess" Insoo. I sometimes wear the tiara she is modeling just to do office work.

Pre-Halloween

Pre-Halloween
Originally uploaded by killerfemme.

Andi came over after our co-op shift to borrow me and LJ's cowgirl stuff... here she is with LJ's hat and my shirt and bandanna (the red books and horse belt buckle are not shown). I guess all that's missing is a horse and had we been in Maine I could have leant her that too... the cat mask is my Halloween fall back, but this year I only wore it for pictures.