Unintentional double exposure, with some cool color shifts at top right, while taking pics of an nearby alleyway and burned-out house on my block. Isn't it chaotically wonderful how two slightly off exposures morphed into something so symmetrical and the unintentional added imagery is still relevant to the shot?
Until next time... Miss Absinthe
On the way out to dinner at Tender Greens Weho when I spotted several snails hanging out on the front lawn of my apartment building enjoying some tender greens themselves... SP had his camera and took these shots.
Another alleyway pic...
Latex gloves, a battery, cigarette butts and a tampon warning pamphlet in the alley behind Kitson on Robertson. Must of been some party!
Until next time... Miss Absinthe
Fountains are one of my favorite things (when the dog bites, when the bee stings...) and the very accessible fountain at the Getty Museum is no exception. I kicked off my gold sandals, rolled up my jeans and grabbed my camera. The floral pattern you see is my new dress, made from a 1970's pillowcase.
Until next time... Miss Absinthe
Found this exploded cotton-y tree seedpod on the sidewalk next to a white stucco wall and I knew I had something. Took seedpod home, of course.
Until next time... Miss Absinthe
Taking all sorts of shots as my learning curve with my Diana F+ continues... This is taken over Sweetie-pie's shoulder, looking into my bedroom.
Until next time... Miss Absinthe
Until next time... Miss Absinthe
Not making the bed today...
Here's the first of my "Unmade Bed" series, something I've been thinking about for years, but finally have the right camera to bring it to fruition.
Until next time... Miss Absinthe
Voila Cheris! Here's the color version of my alleyway Chanel amongst the flowers. Have to say I'm very pleased since the bright fuschia of the foliage is what caught my eye in the first place. And I'm only using expired film, adding another layer of delicious chaos to my artistic baklava...
Went to the Getty today with darling friend Julia (another birthday adventure!) and between freezing my derriere, a yummy lunch and taking in the Jo Ann Callis and Peter Outerbridge photography exhibits, I shot a roll during the few moments the sun graced us... and put my feet in the fountain!
Until next time... Miss Absinthe
I actually squealed when these golden pearly beauties arrived in the mail yesterday, they are that pretty!!! And I owe it all to one of my absolute favorite bloggers, This is Glamorous.
The day before my birthday (last week), she posted a give-away for a gorgeous purple agate cuff bracelet from etsy jewelry line, Maya & Ruhi, which I promptly entered into (keeping fingers crossed) and as I was checking out the rest of the jewelry line, fell into serious bauble-lust. Sweetie-pie wondered what I was oohing and ahhing about, so I showed him and wonderful sneak that he is, made a mental note and ordered them as a late birthday surprise. I couldn't be more tickled.
Merci TIG for all your inspiration and for leading me to my favorite new bauble(s)!
Merci Pearl at Maya & Ruhi for creating beautiful, natural and affordable wearable art!
Merci Sweetie-pie for being the best Sweetie-pie.
Until next time... Miss Absinthe
Was doing laundry at laundry-mat yesterday (ah yes, the glamour) and spied the opposite side of this postcard advertising Gucci's spring/summer sale poking out of the trash, so of course I fished it out, turned it over and discovered somebody's artwork expressing some very strong feelings about the fashion house. It was just too good not to take home and share with you.
Until next time... Miss Absinthe
Saw this discarded in the alley behind the Chanel store on Robertson, so I sat down and took this pic. Originally shot with expired color film, then converted to b&w due to severe overexposure. I'm having the lab develop the color version, and keeping my fingers crossed, because those are pink flowers the bag is sitting in and covered with.
Oh and if you ever see a girly-girl sitting in an alley or stooping in the gutter with a camera... oui, c'est moi!
Until next time... Miss Absinthe
Once a beautiful little house built in the 1930's, then sold and left empty for years (due to owner unable to get permits to tear down and put up condos), put up for sale again, then caught fire (hmm) last December 2008 and has been in this sorry and very sad state since. And it's still for sale! This may sound pie-in-the-sky, but since it needs to be torn down anyway and it's made no $$$ for years, why not turn it into a pocket park for a neighborhood who could use a little "greening" and take the tax break for donating the land to West Hollywood?
Until next time... Miss Absinthe
Came across a gorgeous and pristine cherry-red vintage Cadillac El Dorado parked on Beverly Blvd this past Sunday, so I sat on the curb to take this rosy self portrait.
Until next time... Miss Absinthe
My first portrait with my Diana F+ of my darling friend Amy, holding my parasol as we stood in the middle of a soccer field after an afternoon of flea marketing at Fairfax High.
Until next time... Miss Absinthe
This pic (by Sweetie-pie) of us fulfills my aspirations of looking like part of a groovy sixties folk group a la the Mamas and the Papas, whom I absolutely adore...
Until next time... Miss Absinthe
Spent lovely and breezy day taking my Diana F+ to the Fairfax Flea Market (where darling friend Amy bought me a groovy dress re-worked from a vintage pillowcase for my birthday!) and after returning home, picked up Sweetie-pie and his camera(s) to stroll around the neighborhood. My street is closed today due to crane work and parked to the side was this charming and colorful 18 wheel semi. Really, it was just begging to be photographed! That's three rolls now to be developed!
Until next time... Miss Absinthe
Wondering what adventures are on the horizon...
Until next time... Miss Absinthe
Must resist temptation to stop and photograph every flower I come across...
Until next time... Miss Absinthe
I have some very mixed feelings towards this old and strange LA Mexican (yes loosely phrased) restaurant on Beverly Blvd, which I realize is rare, because most people have very STRONG feelings for many various reasons. I'm not kidding, people either love it or hate it and nobody, but nobody says they ever go for the food.
Let me go back a few years (2000 yikes) when Sweetie-Pie and I moved here and were broke broke broke (SP would say now we're just broke lol) and we knew nothing/nobody and spent 2 months surfing our one friend's couch and various cheap motels (ah yes it builds character). Good times. El Coyote was the first place we ate at, because I remembered Sharon Tate had her last meal there (ok, so I have a macabre tilt from time to time). I have to admit it (and no snarks, please) I enjoyed my meal and the chips and the funky colorful waitstaff and the extremely eclectic clientele. It was dinner and a show for two people for under $20 and for years we went once/twice a month, usually in the late afternoon to avoid crowds.
Then Prop 8 happened (staunchly AGAINST) and one of the owner's (Marjorie) donated $200 and listed the restaurant on her donation form. As a Mormon, apparently she feared for her soul not to donate, but not enough to stop her from making $$$ off selling lots of margaritas (what most people go there for I hear) to a large gay clientele for years on end, or hiring gay waitstaff (who not only lost their rights, but now perhaps their jobs). The ensuing boycott forced Marjorie into hiding and I'm assuming she no longer goes there. I hear business has never been the same.
It's six months later now and curiosity beckoned me to visit and see if there was a discernible difference and... yeah... it was different. Now I realize this particular time may have been a fluke, but even though it was fairly full, it was quieter, full of families and we couldn't see anyone drinking and only a couple people in the bar. Even the patio seemed a bit... tame. Not that this is bad, just different, but I wonder if they've suffered due to lack of alcohol sales, which I suspect was their main source of income. Now I think it's actually karma if they lose those sales, because it's hypocritical to make money off something your dogma stipulates as "vice", especially if it's money from people you view as inferior. Really, how can you pray that sin away?
However, I really don't want the restaurant to go under, nor want anyone to lose their jobs. It's one of the last few old/strange/funky/divey places that I think LA needs to retain some character. I just wish the owners would get their priorities straight.
SP took this pic on our way back to the parking lot. I liked them on the negative side by side, so he made a diptych for me.
Until next time... Miss Absinthe
As you can see, I had difficulty advancing the frame and a double exposure occurred. That's what I love about this camera, a marriage of creativity and chaos.
I just finished shooting the second roll today, mainly in my neighborhood alleyways and keeping fingers crossed, will have something groovy to post next week!
Until next time... Miss Absinthe
Channeling the Cote d' Azur with a colorful floral 60's ebay dress (re-worked by changing neckline), my favorite vintage Italian rattan purse (fully lined in fabric that almost matches my dress) and gold sandals (quel surprise)... life's too short to be drab.
Until next time... Miss Absinthe
Until next time... Miss Absinthe
Until next time... Miss Absinthe
http://www.thejar.com/
Until next time... Miss Absinthe
ps. Is it wrong to brag that I share my birthday with Josephine Baker and Tony Curtis? I aspire to their cool...
Until next time... Miss Absinthe
Saw this little scene in the dirt, one block off Fairfax, near Rosewood. There are so many little dramas that leave their remnants behind in the dirt/street/sidewalk, making me wonder what their story is...
Until next time... Miss Absinthe
Strawberry/Lychee ice cream made by Scoops and served at the Golden State Cafe on Fairfax. Yes Yes Yes.
Until next time... Miss Absinthe
There were over 10 of these lovely orange butterflies hanging out in a small area of the Pavilion garden, motionless as if they were flowers. I want my own butterfly garden now!
Until next time... Miss Absinthe
After marveling at all the colorful gemstones at the museum, I continued my lovefest with nature at The Pavilion of Wings and their gorgeous variety of butterflies and moths. It's a rather small exhibit size-wise, but I wasn't disappointed... except for the fact that despite my best efforts, not one lovely creature landed on me, sigh.
http://www.nhm.org/exhibitions/butterflies/
Until next time... Miss Absinthe
Spent a perfect afternoon at the Natural History Museum (which oddly enough seems little changed since my 5th grade field trip). The Gem and Mineral Hall was so inspiring and mesmerizing... had to be pulled away.
Until next time... Miss Absinthe
The snapdragon's colors intensified as the flowers died in a way that made them beautiful on a whole different level. Sublime to the end.
Until next time... Miss Absinthe
Storefront of Les Habitudes, on Robertson Blvd. at night. Their fashions are so ethereal and it's the only store in my neighborhood that I always stop at and contemplate a more decadent life. Funny how my favorite places in the 'hood have a decidedly French (but not snooty) feel...
Until next time... Miss Absinthe
Darling readers, you will remember my April 8 post regarding my Golden Crossroads Adventure, when I had the pleasure of meeting and talking to Eddie Steeples from My Name is Earl, and learned of his concerns about their show being renewed. Well... got word they were CANCELLED yesterday. I think they are making a huge mistake (one among many if you look at their fall lineup) and I am finding less and less to watch on network tv. 
Until next time... Miss Absinthe
Every flower that enters my domain gets photographed as I work on creating my own immortal flower garden. I often print these out and place them in various places around the lair...
Until next time... Miss Absinthe
Happiness is this divine passionfruit/mango mousse garnished with chocolate stripes and topped with a beautifully mysterious fruit. The mousse was quickly devoured and I was so intrigued with the fruit, I took it home where it now resides perfectly preserved in my freezer. Yes, I'm strange like that.
Until next time... Miss Absinthe
When I saw this crane art (etsy seller Raylene), I knew I finally had something perfect for my living room corner. He now resides next to the asian seafood trap (bought 8 years ago for 75% off) that I've topped with an oversize wooden rosary I found at an animal shelter charity sale years ago. My plant Audrey (so named because she is insatiable with... water) completes the trio.
Until next time... Miss Absinthe
Go outside, watch cats sing and dance and then notice how the color of the fallen berries matches the color of my toes... After about 10 min (I wasn't going anywhere!) one cat slowly (and I mean SLOWLY) slinked around the corner of the building, and was followed 2 min later by the other. Then it got real quiet. Hmmm... gotta love spring!
Until next time... Miss Absinthe
Got to wear my gold Sonia Rykiel's for the first time at the premier of a CSUN short film I acted in. My performance may have mostly ended up on the cutting room floor, but I looked fabulous... As I was walking to the car, the gold from my shoes, the red of my 70's era dress (that I reworked and shortened) and the green of the parking structure stairs caught my Dearest Darling's eye et voila... a picture is born!
