Sleuthy in the garbage room atelier

CALLING ALL UNITS: Be on the lookout for 

Shadowy Woman in a Shadowy Cat Bar

I woke up in a dark underground bar surrounded by drunken cats, a passed out bartender, and a dog head on the wall. I can't be sure, but I seem to remember some bad poetry too. Am I dreaming?

This definitely called for a head-to-toe black-ops shoot in the garbage room atelier.

Under cover in tuxedo pants that someone before me paid lots of money for, a $5 top, and a thrifted wool beret. What's on my feet? you ask. BWAhahaha!!!!!!

You know my green shagariffic boots? It doesn't matter, suffice to say I have acquired an identical pair in black for waaay more cheap, thrifted, $30. My undercover exposed black-socked toes were chilly but it was a small sacrifice for feeling slinky sleuthy. Except for the shaggy texture, these boots are a tad boring, so I have Plans for them. [Edit: I'm linking these boots up with Sheila's Shoe Shine 18 at her blog Ephemera]

Also, it's nearing the end of the year so I sketched this this morning on my inspiration walk. I'm - 

                  T  A  K  I  N  G      S  T  O  C  K               

H  A  P  P  Y     N  E  W     Y  E  A  R     

YOU GORGEOUS CREATURES, plus you're smart too, and funny, and creative, and have generous hearts.

Just moving like a fool in the garbage hall. Same 'ole, same 'ole.

I'm linking up to Patti's Visible Monday at Not Dead Yet Shtyle, even though I'm under cover. I'll deputize you all and give you a badge too.

Sketches and Yellow Skirt Update

I haven't posted any of my journal sketches for a while and I particularly like the one I did below to celebrate the next 365 days of blank pages begging to be filled with happy intrigue, romance, adventure, and riches...



I think the man cat looks like Karl Lagerfeld. Purely coincidental! I am wearing my pale-nicotine faux fur coat, red beret, denim jeggings, and low-heeled boots. The cool cats are wearing things I WANT to wear, especially that colourful maxi coat.

In the next sketch called Cat's Cradle I am wearing my Steve Madden houndstooth ankle-zip stovepipe pants (did I miss any adjectives?), my Shar-Pei black wool sweater, and indigo wool beret, all thrifted.

I love my pencil crayons. It's a meditative process drawing something and then adding life with that tight scratchy colouring action. I know a lot of you have inspiration boards and Pinterest - I guess this is my way of doing the same thing. Do you colour?

TRAVELLING YELLOW SKIRT FREAK SHOW UPDATE

Helga of Helga von Trollop wears the travelling yellow skirt! If you haven't seen her in it yet, you simply MUST. I didn't think it possible, but this neon yellow is probably the least eye-catching of the pieces she has on. Thanks, Helga, for adding to the love. See her original post of it here.



Sometimes simple is best on a trip to fake Paris

No shagariffic boots or bright colours here, but I feel just as visible in this black and white outfit as I do in my most brilliant plumage. This is exactly what I needed to wear on my stroll to my favourite cafe in fake Paris, or maybe fake Italy - does it really matter where? It's all in my head anyway. I'm putting this in Patty's wonderful Visible Monday at Not Dead Yet Style (even though it's already Tuesday). I've also put this up at Everybody, Everywear, which coincidentally has a monochromatic theme right now.

I'm looking rather dazed here, like a cat that has suddenly gone rang-y for no apparent reason. In fact, I'm feeling rather rang-y myself. 

TOO MUCH NOISE IN THE CITY!!! 

CAN YOU HEAR ME ABOVE THE DIN?? 

YES? 

THEN LET ME TURN UP MY FREAKING CAR STEREO OR 

RIP THE MUFFLER OFF MY HARLEY!!! 

Sorry, just venting here...effing, yeah! (heavy metal side effect)

The black things hanging down the front the outfit are the ties of the skirt. I carry a straw bag with this demure outfit and wear my other camera slung across my torso for style scouting. They're not in this photo because I needed to unburden myself as soon as I got home, which is when I snapped this. 

The Outfit

• wide-brimmed black hat, retail
• wraparound circle skirt, retail many years ago 
• flats, Geox, retail many years ago
• light cotton boat neck, three-quarter-sleeve top, thrifted, Value Village

This is the cartoon I drew of me in this outfit on my way to fake Paris (or Italy) with two of my favourite feline friends.

I'm including another outfit cartoon below. O and I had seen a marmalade cat hunting a dragonfly one night which I mentioned the next day when I saw Lisa at Dreamz n Wishz wearing fabulous firefly earrings, plus she had gone out for dinner at Firefly restaurant. She suggested that the cat might make a good cartoon. 

I was wearing Steven Madden slim trousers with ankle zips, and a shirt-dress, which Joni at Walking Colors had reminded me of, pointed black shoes, and my beret.

It has been hot here. By that I mean mid-20s tops. Compared to some places I should not be complaining, but I have been wilting terribly. No amount of watering is able to revive me. I have TREMENDOUS respect for all those bloggers weathering greater heat who manage to look so cool and fabulous, even in light jackets! I sleep sometimes with an icepack wrapped in a towel at my feet or under my neck, which helps. I hope it's not hot this week because I want to wear tights, but the odds are against me...

Other Housekeeping...

I drew this cartoon based on an incident that Curtise at The Secondhand Years had with Ms. Grabby Hands at a thrift sale. In the real story, Ms. Grabby TOOK Curtise's treasure. I could write a not-so-sweet heavy metal song about that too!

I sketched the cartoon below a while ago; it made me think of Robin at her blog a little sewing.

Okay, that's all. Whew. 

I hope you have a tremendous week! I've only been managing to post once a week lately, but I still make the rounds even if I'm not commenting as much as usual. You guys are all ROCK STARS!!!