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Friday 11 September 2015

Most Joyful Nature Woman in a hot pink gown

Melanie Kobayashi, pink gown in the park
How many more opportunities would I have to fark around the park in this stellar gown before it gets too cold? So I seized the day to create a fairy tale of sorts, wearing hot pink instead of red.
Mel Kobayashi, pink gown in Stanley Park, with sprayer
For a romantic reading of this photo, my dress is caught on brambles, not a stick, the sprayer is a lantern, and that's an enchanted forest, not Stanley Park, Vancouver.

I was afraid a ranger or a Mountie - not quite a prince but still on horseback - would find me and arrest me for spraying bug killer in a public park. It was in fact water, but even watering is prohibited with restrictions still in place from the drought. For art, I risked it. 

I made a short video, about 40sec, of me communing joyfully with nature. It's called:
MOST JOYFUL NATURE WOMAN
As I romped through the woods laughing and jumping and skipping, I noticed a canopy of little spiders swinging lazily mid-air on invisible threads, watching me, itching to nest in my hair. A squirrel came to watch as well. 

Hikers on the nature trail nearby would have cocked their heads in amazed wonder upon hearing the rare cry of a-hahaha-ha, accompanied by flashes of hot pink plumage. I could almost hear the flurrious flipping of pages in their guides to rare birds. 
Bag and a Beret, Mel Kobayashi, pink gown in Stanley Park
This special old dress is past her prime for forest frolics, at least with Miu Miu heels, but she was still a star, despite the teensiest rrrip sounds every few minutes (even more alarming than the spiders), and my boots kept getting caught in the hem as I clumsily negotiated stumps and roots on a forest floor slippery with damp pine needles. Gentle tending is required. I shall happily do it.

Below, getting serious. This is how all big-time movie directors look. Gaffer! Where's my gaffer!? More importantly, where's my fecking spider wrangler!!
Melanie Kobayashi, Joyful Nature Woman
After the shoot, I wore this dress out for my morning coffee, as originally planned. I've posted this gown previously, here; she billows with playful elegance and a sibilant swish. My Miu Miu boots keep her grounded - too grounded it turned out. Everything I'm wearing is thrifted or a gift. 

Feeling quite pleased with my impromptu escapade on this crisp summer day, I drew a couple of Turnip Heads to celebrate whilst nursing my splendid Italian roast. 

No animals were harmed in the making of this video, except my pride. If you had a chance to watch, I hope you liked it as much as I had fun making it. I love the process; I love the resulting evidence.
Melanie Kobayashi, Joyful Nature Woman, Stanley Park
I'm linking this up to Patti's Visible Monday at Not Dead Yet Style when it goes live on Sunday. She's baaaack! Hurrah!! I look forward to seeing you all there again.

And I'll link to Catherine's new #iwillwearwhatilike at Not Dressed as Lamb when it goes live Monday because by chance I am also wearing sheer, her prompt for the week. Thanks, Catherine!

I woke up this morning (next day) with hair that looked like Einstein dressed like a Bay City Roller for Halloween. It's a look - yeah, look away. Okay, bye. Have a great weekend, everyone!!


48 comments:

  1. Haha! omygod I enjoyed that video so frickin' MUCH!! You are fabulous. I just loved it. Music, frolicking, laughing and graceful ballerina hand movements; all totally PERFECT! A squirrel nestling on your shoulder or a bluebell alighting on your outstretched palm would have just been the icing on the cake.
    ROCK ON, COOLEST WOODLAND NYMPH TO RULE THEM ALL!

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  3. Freaking iPhone spelling mistakes... Meant to say: Disney on acid, totally fabulous!

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  4. You are a beautiful pink princess ! I love color and I love ... madly ... your glasses ! Always great!
    www.clubmujeresreales.blogspot.com

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  5. Oh SO FABULOUS!! I love it. You are totally magnificent in this ball gown and those glasses are glorious too. The video was a true delight - I'm sure that the forest has never seen such jolliness! XX

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  6. My platonic love/infatuation/crush ... for you became even stronger now.

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  7. The sunglasses are almost, but not quite, as spectacular as the gown.

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  8. I love that video!!!! It's so much fun to watch and I'm glad to hear you had fun making it. That pink gown is gorgeous...I love unique items of clothing and it is well paired with those boots that I might have not taken a special notice of it they were not highlighted in the video:) funny scene, that one!

    Your hairdo looks amazing like that and I do like the sunnies...The setting is perfect and I actually though a spraver was some kind of modernist latern- you could have fooled me with that one.

    Have a fab Friday!

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  9. That video is the absolute high point of my day! I can't help smiling to myself, and now I shall likely get arrested too for having secrets. Spiders - blechh - but no snakes, hurrah for nature. xoxo

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  10. Your videos are the only thing I "watch" on the Internet. I share your opinion on bugs, which - in my opinion - are Nature's way to tell humans to go inside.

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  11. You are an Artiste! Too freakin funny. Had to share that video.

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  12. Hahahahahaha! I love the sound you added to the video. Either that or you are darn good at training those birds and crow to chirp on command.

    Also love the bit where you lean up against the tree and then quickly brush yourself off.

    I wish I'd been hiking there when you were doing this. I could have been your gaffer.

    Love Tiina's comment. Ha ha!

    Did you get any spiders on you?

    Once we were on a day long hike on Vancouver Island and after 7 hours of hiking in high heat and thirst (we'd run out of water hours before and had started adding those disgusting pellets to any running water we could find...so GROSS!) we spotted a guy running past on the trail very fast holding a wooden bench above his head. I'm not joking. And that trail was TOUGH. Part of the West Coast trail. After he ran by we both looked at each other and asked, "Did you see that?" We still aren't sure if we both hallucinated it or not.

    I'm sure that is what any hikers that saw you are saying.

    bisous
    Suzanne

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  13. Oh, you are a piece of work - artwork, that is! Pink magnificence, sheer wonderland frolicking and gallivanting. Whack that branch! Brush off those spiders! Lure those ravens! Frighten the hikers!

    You amaze me. I'm so glad I've gotten to know you, so that I can ride your coattails to fame and fortune! :-D

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  14. You are freedom, a breath of fresh air and total inspiration.
    When are you coming over so we can play around together?
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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  15. Bill Shakespeare would have cast you as Titania in a heart beat. You are a star, my dear!

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  16. Wood nymphs always seem a bit soppy and feeble but if I encountered a crazy arse chick like you in the forest I'd chuck all my possessions in the river and come and join you spiders and all.
    Gorgeous. xxxx

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  17. The video is magical Melanie! I won't ask where you got that bug sprayer from? And what you use it for otherwise...

    If you tire of the jacket, think of me please!!!!

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  18. Hahaha, Sue, I used to use the sprayer in my art studio sometimes to wet-down my huge pieces of paper before and during painting. It's never come close to bug killer or weed killer but people who see me with that don't know it.

    When I found that jacket I thought of you immediately. I'm channeling your good vibes when I wear it.

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  19. You look stunning in that dress. Your hair is fantastic! If I ever get a chance to cut my hair shorter, I want to try that!

    - Anna

    www.melodicthriftychic.com

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  20. I feel enchanted by your film! You are such a powerful creator, Melanie - artist, writer, stylist, actress, comedian, director... you are a pure genius!

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  21. Pink princess. Very romantic style. :))))

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  22. perfect farking around outfit. The sprayer added a nice touch

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  23. Oh I do believe in fairies. I Do!!! I would love to see you flit flit flitting through the forest, spiders nesting in your coif, squirrels patiently waiting for a glimpse of your panties. Such a good video. I especially like the part where you scrape off your boot and then replace the bit of bark you've knocked free. A true environmentalist. This dress is a masterpiece as are you. Applause!!!

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  24. You are crazy in the best possible use of the word!
    Love the sunnies shot as foil. Xo Jazzy Jack

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  25. There should be a specific word for heels in hems. And a support group for those of us afflicted. You are an enchanted vision in pink!

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  26. Melanie, your life is indeed a magical adventure and woodland creatures sing to you wherever you go. It's exactly like the RAV4 commercial! lalalalalala lalalalala. :)

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  27. That video is sheer genius!!! You are hilarious!!! The comedy crow about 35 seconds was great!!
    Pink sheer dress in yonder forest glade!! Absolutely beautiful!!! I loved the incongruity of the yellow bug sprayer too! You are an inspired genius!!x

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  28. Another video triumph ,so clever, so funny. Every parkland needs its own bright pink clad , Miu Miu boot wearing woodland creature.

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  29. You are a rare bird indeed and one that Canada should protect, well actually the world should protect rare birds like yourself. The world is far better off for having birds like you about!! LOVE your video. I feel some inspired rare bird frolicking coming on in my garden soon.

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  30. Whahaha.. you had me in stitches again, you silly twit. The fun nonsense you can come up with, is amazing. Oh excuse me, I should not call art funny nonsense. The remark " I could almost hear the flurrious flipping of pages in their guides to rare birds" hahaha brilliant. And what was landing on your hand? A butterfly? Or a robin?
    Also the way your hair looked like Einstein etc haha hilarious.
    To me you are Queen of the woods. And you need a professional crew, with gofers, runners, director, light, the whole shebang (is that how you spell it? Keep in mind -always- that English is not my first language.
    Greetje

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  31. I was watching your ever so sweet nature video and my husband asked me if I was "In my Happy place?" Not as much as you obviously are, but close! Wouldn't heaven be like this? Except perhaps vodka in the spray bottle. ;)

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  32. You're such a nature girl! I can almost imagine you hiking up Mt. Kilimanjaro in Miu Miu boots and a frothy pink be-daisied gown. I always love your videos, and this one is just soooooooo joyous!

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  33. YES YES YES, I like your Most Joyful Nature Woman video! If a picture is worth a thousand words, 48 seconds of video must surely elicit trillions of them, plus streams of emotions braided into elegant fairie twists. Also, I must comment on the beauty of the pink - that shade of pink makes my toes curl in ecstatic cramps. ouch ... it hurts a little!! I a feeling the inspiration, I tell you and I am plotting a little trip out into some magical woods back behind my house, maybe tomorrow.

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  34. This is so tremendously cool!!! I love the juxtaposition of the punchy, beautiful pink maxi dress in the thoroughly woodland setting. You, your blog and outfits are always such a massive inspiration, dear lady (thank you!).

    Many hugs,
    ♥ Jessica

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  35. hubs and i sat marveling and grinning from one ear to the other in front of the screen!!!!!!
    he made his very best compliment "she´s competent!" and i can only sign this :-))))
    love!!! xxxxx

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  36. you are such a genious ! And a really awsome creature in the woods ! Wish you were in my wood.

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  37. Ha! Brilliant! You're a real-life fairy princess.

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  38. Oh I want a dancing trala-ing fairy lady in my backyard. It's very small, but we do have a tree. And it drops lots of sticks. There's even a squirrel and birdies. No dogs though. Next time you're in the neighborhood, please drop on by, okay?

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  39. This is a stunning post. Your colourful outfit is such fun and completely eye catching. Love the fairy dancing.

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  40. I owe you another thanks for the free entertainment. You are one crazy talented and wildly entertaining woman. Since I can now picture you dancing around the forest in your free spirited mood and lovely pink dress, it makes me laugh even more so. You are a jewel! Wish I had been there to join you for coffee afterwards.

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  41. You look darling!! That joyous vibe so clearly evident from the photos is positively infectious :)

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  42. You're radiant! I wish a mounty could have trotted past in the background. It would have been so romantic. We don't prosecute the ones we love for destroying dubious insects and giving love blood to troubled plants in times of need. (I'm sure it was Evian and not just regulated tap water anyway). And how could a mounted mounty not love you!! Love the jacket. Is it strange to say this: it looks really good with your hair. If it's strange, take it as the strangest compliment you've had today. Unless you get a stranger one. Fabulous nature frolicking by the way, top notch. xx

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  43. Hello, Beauty! When you do a thing for Art, then it is well done, every time. That dress deserves its outing, for sure, and I'm loving your hair flung back. (Tried it myself, but didn't "work") You've expanded my interest and understanding of distressed elements added to an exisiting garment. (I'm loving rippy jeans right now.) Transformation through disintegration ... must be me subconsiously prepping for my ultimate mortality. Love distroyed jeans as a sartorial metaphore for ageing!
    Yeah ... that's probably a stretch.
    I'm so sorry I didn't get to get up to Vancouver meet-up ... someday, Mel, I mean it. There will be cocktails.

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  44. You are by far the most joyful nature woman on earth. And your video sublime. I am in love with your truly magnificent gown and I adore watching your talent shine.

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  45. These are some of my most favourite photos of you! I laughed out loud watching you frolicing about the forest in that splendiferous pink cloud of a dress. You are a mad woman, in the bestest possible way. XO

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  46. Hahaha, Melanie, you enchanted pink princess! That video is so funny and adorable.

    Love your lantern and the dress is fabulous!

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  47. Joyful frolicking in pink frock - what more could you ask? Well perhaps a crazy video to make us smile x
    We are putty in your hands.
    Anna
    http://www.annasislandstyle.com/

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