The Ponies Run the Girls are Young

I have a good feeling about this year. A really good feeling. Maybe it's because I accomplished my resolution from last year- to get published for the first time- and now I feel like I'm on a roll. That's it, rolling- it's like I'm gathering speed, rolling downhill. Bumps and potholes can't stop me, that's how fast I'm flying. I'm a big black boulder from the coal mine hills and I've only just found out how powerful I really am, how a little push can break me loose from the old mountain's teeth.

I don't know whether there's a crash at the end of this tumble or not. But hey, the ride is good fun, and I'm loving the speed.

If I could wear only one thing for the rest of my life, it would be my mom's Swan Lake tutu. She played the Swan Princess. I wish I could have seen her dance even just one time.


This tutu is the most perfectly constructed pieces I have seen in my life. Its structure is evident and strong, but still allows for the dancer's body to flow. The tulle is old and frayed but still floats like the feathers it mimics. I love how everything in this costume feels purposeful, and how it gives the wearer a purpose- there's no question about how you should hold yourself when you are a swan princess.
Sometimes I think that if a designer puts all of their effort and thought into a piece, a sense of purpose is instilled in it. The idea that inspired the clothing is so powerful that this purpose is inherent in the piece itself, and the wearer can't help but do what the clothing demands.

Photos are by the amazing and lovely Katie and Shelby Urus, aka the Black Swan.

I haven't seen Black Swan yet myself, but it sounds like it's as amazing as the costumes look. I have one week more until I go back to the city to face new classes, a new job, new projects, and an old show. Until then, I have my tutu, some hot chocolate to drink, and a Zombie Beatles Poetry Reading this Wednesday to organize.

I am very happily serious about this.
Happy New Year!

one more thin gypsy thief

“Most of the laugh tracks on television were recorded in the early 1950’s. These days, most of the people you hear laughing are dead.”

— Chuck Palahniuk

I've never been a fan of fireworks, so I'm not the person you should sit next to on the Fourth of July. Yeah, for the first few seconds the sounds are exciting and the colors are beautiful, and then it gets monotonous.
My boredom with fireworks has always slightly worried me. I wonder, how have I become so overindulged that something so spectacular fails to wow me. But really, it's just lights in the sky and thunder in your ears, and it is much more interesting to watch the faces of the people around me.

I turned 20 last Thursday.

I celebrated earlier in the city with my friends, and then had an amazing birthday in Boston with a very close friend. I realized something over these past few weeks- if you have good friends, you will always have good food.

At least if you have friends as wonderful as mine.

Pittsburgh light-up night was beautiful. Enormous Christmas trees, lights everywhere, good food and music. I love crowds.
Has anybody ever heard of fried apple pie rings? I hadn't. Not before that night, when they rocked my world.

We can play in the snow together

Ian MacArthur

Kawase Hasui

Edward Gorey


Tekkonkinkreet

Kelly Reemsten

I feel ya, Donald.

Trust Ghosts

Just a quick post- I'm flying to Boston tomorrow to visit one of my closest friends, who I haven't seen since August. Late night shows, lemon ricotta french toast, a drafty apartment and a very long catch up conversation wait for me in Massachusetts. Can't wait!



Remember when the ground was covered with brown and red rather than white? You still made crunching noises when you walked, but it wasn't quite as cold.

Giant leaf piles are one of the best things ever

So is peppermint hot chocolate. My brother and I kept things classy with a mound of whipped cream, a sprinkle of cinnamon, and chocolate covered graham crackers. And of course our souvenir mugs only added to the classiness.

I just dyed my hair red! This photo was actually taken before I dyed it, the lighting just turned out this way, oddly enough. And I ended up liking it so much that I took it in to the salon and said, 'This please." Loving being a redhead so far!

I'm finally home. I finally have the time to hang out with everyone who means something special to me, and you know the saying 'distance makes the heart grow fonder'? Screw that. I'm close as can be and I love them even more now.

See you soon!

'cause a costume can be quite comfortable

Tierney Gearon

There is a process for peeling a pomegranate. There are also several dozen youtube videos dedicated to this process. I tried to watch one this morning, and after two minutes I gave up and started carving liberally with a steak knife. I ate my yogurt and pomegranate seeds with red stained fingers and watched the snow fall.

I spent today baking and sewing. Someone must have been watching over me while I picked out my fabric in the garment district, because it has been three whole days and I still love my color palette. I am almost done with my first dress- I'll post pictures as soon as I'm feeling good about the finished product.

The baking involved a lot of vanilla and almond and butter, which created the most intoxicating smell you could imagine. Every year that I can remember, my great grandma Oma baked tray upon tray of vanillekipferl. They are lovely, moon-shaped vanilla cookies with crushed almonds, dipped in powdered vanilla sugar. This was the first year that I took on the task of baking vanillekipferl, and they turned out amazingly. I can't upload any pictures right now, but here is a beautiful picture from a dessert blog: http://teacia.blog.hr/2007/11/1623580284/vanille-kipferl.html


I love the feeling of creating something. Watching a dress form under my fingers, molding almonds into little white moons, mangling a pomegranate beyond belief... Today was beautiful in so many ways. I will update soon again with more photoshoot pictures that are long overdue, but for now, here's a photo for your eyes, a taste for your mouth, and some words for your soul.

I am reading aloud the book of my life on earth
and confess, I loved grapefruit.
In a kitchen: sausages; tasting vodka,
the men raise their cups.
A boy in a white shirt, I dip my finger
into sweetness. Mother washes
behind my ears. And we speak of everything
that does not come true,
which is to say: it was August.
August! the light in the trees, full of fury. August
filling hands with language that tastes like smoke.
Now, memory, pour some beer,
salt the rim of the glass; you
who are writing me, have what you want:
a golden coin, my tongue to put it under.

-From Musica Humana by Ilya Kaminsky

yesterday sceptres and crowns fried oysters velvet gowns

Going to the garment district today, armed with 8 sets of measurements and a hunger for chiffon and black velvet.


Wish me luck!!


and remember the Song of Mehitabel.

i have had my ups and downs
but wotthehell wotthehell
yesterday sceptres and crowns
fried oysters and velvet gowns
and today i herd with bums
but wotthehell wotthehell
i wake the world from sleep
as i caper and sing and leap
when i sing my wild free tune
wotthehell wotthehell
under the blear eyed moon
i am pelted with cast off shoon
but wotthehell wotthehell

O Karma, Dharma, Pudding and Pie

gimme a break before I die

totem teddy

Julie Morstad

Reading Philip Appleman on a leather office couch with my feet up. Going home tomorrow then away again, and it's snowing outside, and I love driving in the snow.

Five Easy Prayers For Pagans.
And don't forget to study Geography.

Russian you would be deplorable,
But your Lapland is simply Andorrable
So my Hungary fantasy understands
Why I can't keep my hands off your Netherlands.


Love this guy.  

Shahzia Sikhander

Josh Datu

bang bang



making chocolate pudding

Tierney Gearon


NYC in two days!