Halloween Girls

Valentina came up with an unusual costume this year: Head in a fish tank! She also wore a Pierrot hat, that we had purchased at a trip to Haight/Ashbury with her good friend "Clara Bow".

Halloween Display

The display on my sideboard features , of course, a Halloween theme. the pumpkin sculptures are by Nicol Sayre. She is the creator of wonderful whimsical decorations. The wire basket with moss makes a perfect nest for my hand dyed Halloween eggs. This idea came from Martha Stewart.

Halloween party

Last year's Halloween party was a tour de force. I went all out and created this ghoulish buffet. My inspiration came from the old Baroque still life paintings, called Vanitas. I worked on this set up for a week and borrowed many items from my friends. Catharine was so kind to give me some items from her taxidermy collection, Ellie offered her vintage silver, Pam had a crocodile's head. The beautiful, but scary flower arrangement (who knew that a flower arrangement could be scary) was designed by Svenja. Scott and Valentina baked terrible finger cookies and Ellie brought her amazingly decorated cupcakes. When Halloween was over, it was hard to take it all down and restore my studio to it's usual set up. somehow I wish I could live like this all the time. After this Halloween extravaganza though, I felt burned out and Halloween was celebrated this year rather quietly.

Devilish Scott

He/She Costume

Last year I was haunted by this vision, that I had to be half man / half woman for Halloween. I had seen this He/She costume in some pictures from the old Victorian circuses and freak shows. The question was , how to make a costume that will have a male and female side. Enter my friend Pam , a former set designer, movie production designer, artist and wizard in so many things. She liked the idea and immediately devised a plan on how this costume could work. Off we went to the Goodwill hunting for a tuxedo and a gown. somehow the universe wanted me to make this vision come true, because we found the perfect garments. Pam set out to do her magic, fusing the tux and the gown - the result was more than successful: I put on my costume and felt transformed - my vision came alive. Thanks also to Elliot, Pam's very talented husband and a cinematographer, who took the beautiful portraits of me.

A little ditty from the ditty bops

Halloween and beyond I am in the mood for tartan

Gorgeous outfits from Alexander McQueens fall fashion show from last year. The combination of the red tartan with black lace is striking. I wanted them last year and I want them now! for more fashion extravaganza go here.