faye | Her Daily Muse

Dior Inspiration…as intoxicating now as it was back then

Sep 182012

Marion Cotillard by Jean-Baptiste Modino for Dior Magazine No1

When I was many years younger, I used to embark on wild adventures with my paternal grandmother. We explored most of the great state of NH (where I was born but due to my parents divorce when I was a baby, visited for the summers and some holidays until my teens) as well as a good deal of Maine and Massachusetts. We visited every single historic military site, all possible museums and made sure to stop into every antique shop, art supply store and book store in the area as often as possible. To say that my grandmother was an influence on who I am today would be a great understatement.

I learned how to bake, sew, embroider, quilt...you name the craft and we did it. I explored bugs and leaves and flowers, picked berries and then baked with them or turned them into jam. I was encouraged to decorate doll houses with odds and ends around the house and was assisted in figuring out how to design and sew clothes for the dolls. I had notebooks filled with watercolored architectural plans (that part was more from my dad who designs and builds houses) and made crazy piles of friendship bracelets (and sold them...I was always an entrepreneur at heart) and made piles and piles and piles of paper dolls. I look back on those summers and think of all of the wonderful things we did together and how much they influenced my being a designer and it amazes me.

One day we were at a museum with a good deal of historical costumes, I think it must have been the NH Historical Society Museum, and we brought home a bunch of paper doll books. I was mad for paper doll books and liked to buy them in twos so I could leave one intact and cut one up. I had tons of them! Well that day we bought a Tom Tierney 50's couture fashion book, and it was incredible. (you can actually still buy it...which proves how awesome it was that its still printed almost 30 years later!) Anyway, that day I was introduced to Dior and Balenciaga as well as other couture greats from the 50's and was instantly smitten. I will never forget the first time I saw the designs, I poured over them for hours and hours. Anyway, the whole reason why I thought of this was that when I saw the Marion Cotillard spread from the Dior Magazine No1, I was instantly taken back to that wonderful day I discovered Dior in fashion illustration paper doll form.

Ga, Sierra & Faye, Summer 2010 (Ga is in a Manic Trout Necklace inspired by her influence)

Thank you Dior for continuing to inspire me for so many years and a huge thank you to my Ga, who had the wisdom to introduce us.

In a land where time just disappears…

Life of A Designer, Ramblings Comments Off

Mar 022012

Just a tiny part of what had to come out of the cupboards

At the end of my last post I remarked how tired I was, how much I just wanted to lie down. Well what I didn't realize was that the fatigue creeping over me was in fact the prelude to the flu. 40 hours of high fever, chills, night sweats, body aches and general miserableness. At about 2pm this afternoon, I awoke in my hopefully last fever breaking puddle (pleasant...I know) and was feeling vastly better. So I went about cleaning up the chaos which is caused by both members of the house being ill (Adam was a day ahead of me and the poor thing had to fly today...I am so happy I am not him right now!).

Unfortunately though there was a bit more to tackle then just sheet changing, dish washing and shoving piles of yoga pants and pajamas in the hamper. During all of this flu brouhaha, we were due for the annual pest prevention spray. Which meant that I had to empty all of my cupboards in the kitchen, bathroom and bar into the rest of the apartment and cover them with sheets. When the exterminator arrived however, he took one luck at me and fled, yelling over his should that he'd be back in few weeks and not to breathe on him. Which was great because where would Faye, Adam and I gone for four house of quarantine if we both had the flu? Our friends would be crazy to let us in! Bad because all afternoon I have been enjoying the pain in the ass task of putting everything back in its place. Ugh. The only good part of it all is that as we want to move out by April 1st, we may be able to avoid it altogether.

In other news...my first SXSW show is NEXT WEEKEND. How did that happen??? I want to cry that I lost 40 hours being sick, but better that I'm sick now than next week!

Ringing in the New Year!

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Jan 012012

My New Years Eve was a bit dampened by Adam and I having nasty colds, but we managed to celebrate anyway...it just involved a lot of nose blowing. I am a bit ahead in the symptom department and had to drag Adam to Madam Mam' s for our favorite Thai food, but once there he was glad we went...as it's awesome!

NYE2012_03

After dinner we really got exciting and rented a movie...hey, we're sick...getting off the couch for dinner was rough enough!

I did get us a bottle of sparkling cider to ring in our first New Year's Eve together.

Luckily we're both dorky enough that we had a great time celebrating low key...and my sequin dress will just have to come out to play at a later time.

How did you celebrate the New Year?

Recently in Instagram

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Dec 032011

What a week. I think my hard drive crashing was number three on my list of most stressful moments in the life of Manic Trout, coming in behind two floods...both causing my studio to be evacuated and one forcing me to move and the being a move of 2000 miles and having to keep my studio n a pod for a month. Thankfully I now have a new hard drive and as I back up weekly, I only lost a small amount of work.

While transferring photos from my phone this morning, I realized it been quite some time since I posted instagram photos. Speaking of instagram, have you seen followgram yet? You can access your instagram account from your mac, its awesome!

Anyway, here is what I have been up to the past week or so...

On the boat in South Padre on the Thanksgiving Moring

Faye who is exhausted after her first walk on a beach. There was a plethora of washed up jellyfish and fish carcasses that day to cause utter joy and excitement. All in all, a successful adventure.

A kite boarder setting up on the flats.

We had to stop at the tourist trap on the way off the island to photo the dinosaurs and other creatures...I personally liked the shark the best.

A pit stop for a big bag of pineapple oranges on the road home...so happy we did, yummy!!

When it gets down into the low 40's in Austin, the outdoor bars are still open as usual, so everyone is out on 6th street in parkas and scarves...still hanging around outside...freezing cold but reluctant to go inside...me included!

Faye and I had a lot of cuddle time this week while my computer was gone.

Part of the Manic Trout tent at Austin's First Thursday this month, I love doing outdoor night shows in December...we're sure not in NY anymore!

Adam and I had date night last night...burgers at Docs on Congress, an unexpected stop at the Big Top Candy Shop and then we were off to see Jack and Jill (the new Adam Sandler flick)...it was the perfect date and so much fun!

ps...I am manictrout on instagram!

My week in Instagram

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Sep 022011

Ok, I cheated...there's a photo from last week too...but I thought it important to include Fashion Week and I think I missed a week? Well, with Adams move this past weekend things were a bit wonky. On a related note, one week from tomorrow and my apartment will finally be ready!! It was HOT this week...over 110 on more than one day, a few days we gave up by mid afternoon and headed off to watering holes...it seemed the only sane thing to do!

Setting up for the Austin Fashion Week Jewelry Showcase at the Driskill

The most magical place on earth...it houses beer, wine, liquor AND cheese!!!

with Tati at the Secret Beach

Arghhhhhh...the gnats have arrived!!!

The guys do the cooking...good thing, or I'd starve

Happy Hour at La Feria

Red Bud Isle

At Red Bud Isle Park

Faye after Red Bud Isle

How did I end up with dog who won’t wear jewelry?

daily muse, Dose of Inspiration 2 Responses »

Jul 292011

I ask myself this question rather often, I mean just look at how adorable this dog looks in a necklace!

Mind you, Faye only weighs 15lbs, so I can get one on her, but after about 5 minutes she figures out a way to get it off...usually maiming the the necklace along the way. I can't even to get her to keep a bow on...which is very sad as her sister had a bow tied around her neck at Christmas this year by MY sister and still had on 5 months later. I'm pretty sure this is karma as when I was growing up my mother was a professional rider and I resisted riding with every ounce of will that I had. Man, karma's a bitch.

My week in pictures…

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Jul 182011

Thanks to the iphone, I have been snapping more photos more frequently...here are some shots from the last couple of weeks...

Adam and Faye have fallen in love.

Balloons being filled up and dancing on the ceiling while waiting to decorate the dining room.

I will dearly miss my porch and the tree right next to it making me feel as though I am sitting in a tree house when out there.

A pile of charms waiting to be drilled for necklaces.

The beautiful driveway to Tamarack. This too will be missed.

Top 5 Valentine’s Day Movies

Life of A Designer 2 Responses »

Feb 142011

Ah yes, it's February 14th. I'm not one for Valentine's Day in general, and this year being single, I am pretty happy that I have such a busy day ahead of me...the kind of day where I go, go, go every over planned out minute of it. I am booked until about 9pm, but I'm figuring that if my usual monthly post board meeting pow wow with friends is canceled due to the date, then I will come home and snuggle up with Faye and enjoy a themed flick. As I only allow myself candy a few times a year, and Valentines day is one of those very special occasions, I also plan on treating myself to a pile of themed candy as well...although admittedly, I have already started in on the conversation hearts. Not sure what I'll watch yet, but I narrowed my viewing choices down to my top 5...

Sleepless in Seattle - Best Valentines Day movie, ever.
An Affair to Remember - Responsible for Sleepless in Seattle.
Valentine's Day - I adored Jessica Biels character.
Say Anything - Do I really need to explain.
Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown - Before it all got so complicated.

What's your favorite Valentine's Day flick?

The Do’s & Don’ts of Blizzard Survival

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Feb 022011

Faye wishing all that snow would just go away already

I have learned a few things about blizzards and working from home this winter, as well…we have had one every week for over a month. Here are my snow day guidelines:

Do make sure you have the necessities on hand. If any of the following run out, I have a panic attack: apples, tea, movies and what I like to call “legal candy” i.e. dried fruit, crystallized ginger and other sweet treats that are NOT candy and therefore I may eat them without guilt that I am a sugar junky.
Do break some of the rules on snow days…such as having movies on in the studio during daytime hours.
Don’t let being cooped up get the best of you. Cabin fever is not a made up concept (hello, did you not see The Shining?) and you need to make sure you at least talk to other people on the phone.
Do bribe yourself to not become a sloth. If you do an exercise video during the day, you can put jammies back on after you shower.
Do shovel often. Do not think the snow and ice that has accumulated will just go away. A wooden stairway quickly becomes a luge run and will take much more effort to make them safe a week later than if you just did it as it snowed.
Don’t drive from Baltimore, MD to Millbrook, NY in a blizzard. It will take you a looong time and be so stressful that you will get a cold after wards.
Do make sure that on non snow days, you get the heck out of your studio for a few hours...you’ll feel amazingly refreshed by the time the next blizzard hits...you know, three days later.
Do realize that if you have a dog that they too are cooped up…try to engage them in a bit of indoor activity so their boredom does not backfire and result in the chewing of your favorite possessions.
Don’t forget that when you go outside its not ok to forget to wear boots, hats, gloves and perhaps a blanket to prevent freezing to death.
Don’t put off cleaning the snow from you car and the space behind it until you need to be somewhere right now. It will not happen.

Stay warm my pretties, here in the Northeast we’re due for more snow...Saturday…and Tuesday and Wednesday…

Snow Night!

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Jan 072011

my "back yard"

We closed the restaurant tonight because of the snow and even though we're only open 2 nights a week, I get really excited when we have a snow night! I of course celebrated by reading on the couch (my ultimate guilty pleasure activity!). After an hour I was restless so I have been organizing in the studio and watching house. I may even make some hot cocoa, woo hoo!

Sierra all bundled up

For a break, I grabbed my camera, bundled us both up and took Faye out for a sad little walk. However, she gets a bit whiny about the snow and just stands there looking at me like I enjoy watching her suffer and find her pain amusing, its kind of funny, but at the same time pitiful.

Faye all bundled up

Shortly after we got outside, I was happily taking pictures when we were almost were attacked on the side walk by this woman's two crazed yapping dogs, so I gave in and our adventure was cut short.

Home

The second floor is home to me, Faye and Manic Trout and on a snowy night is cozier then ever...I'll admit I'm not that upset to be back inside!

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