remember your 8 track iPhone case from 1972?

We remembered ours!

Last weekend we went to the Missoula Art Museum's Annual Benefit Auction.  It's MAM's 40th anniversary, so the party was 70s themed.  

Here we are decked out in polyester with our friend and Brink gallery owner, Jenn Leutzinger.  The 70s Maxi dress fashion is nothing if it isn't comfortable!

We both carried custom 8 Track iPhone Cases, handmade by Bruce.  

Here's mine:

The Osmonds Phase III 8 Track iPhone Case by Bruce Tribbensee

The Osmonds Phase III 8 Track iPhone Case by Bruce Tribbensee

He had a different Donny and Marie case.  Sing along if you like, "I'm a little bit country.  And I'm a little bit ..."

This year's event was a huge success and our props were the best accessories ever! Some fangirls were trying to get Bruce to sell the cases on Etsy but he's way too busy with writing code these days.  

Maybe in the Spring!

best everyday sandals

I've been searching for good summer shoes for a few years.  Trendy thin-soled sandals don't hold up for me. It's partly psychological, but I feel like I'm too big for them.  It's as if I'll break them or they are temporary somehow. Maybe it's because somehow summer shoes evolved into something disposable.  Even though I enjoy wearing heels, they aren't really what I mean by "everyday." I can wear them - even run in them - but they aren't truly comfortable and in fact, many are probably damaging. 

I'm looking at the feet around me.  I want to avoid developing foot problems like most of the women in my family.  My mother, her four sisters, my two sisters and a long list of cousins have terrible foot problems - bunions for starters - and they struggle to find truly good shoes.  And the list of my friends with foot issues is also long.  Sure, blame genetics for their bad luck, but still, why compound the possibility for yourself?

"Good" to me means shoes that fit and look good.  That is the compromise - if the shoe fits well so often it's unattractive. (See orthopedic shoes and Birkenstocks if you aren't following this.)  Of course, where I live, in the Rockies, style is often compromised for green or healthy footwear and it's fashionable enough to wear hiking and river shoes here, but I don't want to wear athletic sandals every day. I want some style. I want to express myself.  And I want the option to change shoes around from day to day.  I think it's only right that we have everything we want in our shoe collection without compromise.  Don't you?  

Definition of a good shoe: comfortable, smart, good-looking and - for summer - cool, too. For full disclosure, you should know that I am a huge fan of John Fleuvog's shoes for all of the above reasons. And more.  Fleuvog's are smoking hot and most are comfortable.  They draw on retro sensibilities, which I share, but even so, they are able to also be very now.  And they are well made. Unfortunately even Fleuvog has not been able to provide the elusive 'everyday sandal' for me.  Plus, Fleuvog's are pricey (think $200 and up easily) - I'm always trolling for their sales.  Don't get me wrong - I'll gladly drop a lot of cash on shoes. And I do.  But they better be worth it. (And Fleuvog's are.)

This year, I found Wolky and my hunt for good everyday sandals was over.  This pair I'm wearing in these photos is just one sample.  They are more futuristic than they are orthopedic and that's partly what makes them work for me.  They have a lot of features - adjustable straps at every point you would want adjusting and removable foam and cork combo footbeds that mold to your feet and can be replaced with personalized inserts if needed.  I like the beefy soles and patent-y material.  They are easy to maintain as well as take on and off.  They are fantastic for traveling - they adapt from casual day wear to snappy evening wear in a pinch and I can walk the greatest distances in them.  Oh and did I mention that they just feel good? I recommend that you take a look at their varied collection for a style you might like.  Their prices are not significantly cheaper than Fleuvog's, but like Fleuvog's they are built to last.  (Check out Fleuvog's too, by the way, you won't regret it.) Oh, and in Missoula, the Bootlegger in the mall now carries some Wolky styles.

The best endorsement for Wolky is Mabel.  When I visited Mom in Indiana this summer, she admired mine, tried them on, and most importantly she was certain in an instant that they fit!  So, we ordered her a pair (in bronze).  She loves them.  You have no idea how happy that makes me.

I'm saving up for closed toe styles - probably boots - from Wolky now that the weather is.... turning.

days of greatness

Days of greatness is an expression my friend Dyna taught me.  The idea is like a birthday party extension. You get as many days of greatness as the years of your age.  Your days of greatness happen in the time around your birthday.  And you can even start them before the actual birthday if you like, but you only get that many days.  During that time, your friends and family are supposed to treat you with extra special kindness, affection and generosity.  Like a queen.

My 'days of greatness' have been especially rich and full this year. I'm just mentioning a few highlights here.

Emily took a picture of me wearing my new bike helmut hat.  B had to order it from England cause there isn't a retailer in the U.S. yet.  I can order more hat covers to change out for different fashion choices. It's absolutely great.

And then he made Hand Pies.

Just like it sounds, these are little pies that you can hold in your hand.  

It started with a recipe that I saw for Pie Lollipops.  He went for a larger size than the lollipops for a better pastry crust-to-filling ratio and abandoned the stick. An excellent decision. 

He made several kinds of filling: fruit compote, Nutella, apple, strawberry and combinations.

They were fun to make.

I helped with the details.

And they were so ridiculously cute as objects.

He was right-on with the proportions so every bite was a sweet and flakey balance.  They were a big hit at the party, of course, and saved us the stack of plates and forks to clean.  Plus, the informality encouraged everyone to help themselves. Because of the modest size you needn't feel guilty to go back for seconds or thirds, either. 

Since he made plenty, I enjoyed them for breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert for a few days.  That is definitely my idea of living like a queen.

The days of greatness are over now but I'm still feeling pretty damn lucky.

fashion's dirty little revolutionary secret

Copyright and Trademark come up constantly in the arts. In our studio, we debate over rights when considering using found video and film footage, music, imagery and content for making movies, iPhone apps or a tee shirt design. Often clients don't know any different so it is our responsibility to do the right thing legally but also morally by other artists.

On a personal level, artists are all over the board in their feelings of ownership of an idea. When teaching Contemporary Criticism, I brought up the Sheppard Fairey debate and students brought more research and energy to this discussion than almost any other. The subject struck a fundamental nerve for almost all of them. 

In my own personal experience I eventually come to the final question, "did the person who took the idea do it better?" Of course, that triggers more debate for many but the final execution of an idea often brings clarity for me. And then there is that very common feeling of ownership of an idea but never actually making it or doing anything about it. Ideas are pretty cheap in the end it seems. At least ideas all on their own. (Read: Go make something!)

Lately the rights (or lack there of) fashionistas and designers hold has been leading the discussion at our table. This TED video, "Lessons from fashion's free culture" by Johanna Blakely has been a great contribution to the debate and in certain ways very liberating for me. I want everyone to see it.

P.S. Going beyond the idea stage and getting into what has been published or produced, I have been directed to two places to start if you seek rights to use someone else's intellectual property: The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) or Broadcast Music Incorporated (BMI). Good luck with that.

Enjoy the video!

Discovering Modesty

I recently discovered Modesty.

Modesty Blaise.

Modesty Blaise is a spicy mod fem spy spoof character that I recommend.  The 1966 film is based on a comic strip character that English author Peter O'Donnell first penned in 1963.  He published the Modesty Blaise action adventure novel in 1965.  He retired from the series in 2001.

The movie stars Monica Vitti who is perfect as Modesty.  Modesty is smart, agile, sexy and creative.  (Often described as a female James Bond.)  She effortlessly has men available to her for work and play.  She changes her outfits instantaneously to adjust to situations, oh and what fab outfits!  (I especially want her accessories and think I might have to make them.)  She draws on her network of connections around the world whenever she needs assistance, and most of all, she has a fearlessly fab good time.  She's like a lot of the women I know.

The movie is definitely on the light side (what movies like Austin Powers draws inspiration from) but has very dark humor in moments, and it runs long (two hours), but it's worth reviving for it's psychedelic sets, Vitti's self-possessed performance and the concept's whole dominant fem edge.

Also, visit the official Modesty Blaise, Ltd. website.

Crafty Town

Well, it's akin to funky town, I guess.  A lot of handiwork spreading around here.  We popped into a great little fundraiser for the Lowell School PTA to shop crafts.  They had live music and clever handmade goods from salsa to inner-tube wallets.  We picked up a (406) Tshirt from Zoo City Apparel as a gift.

Hip Mama Talks about The Blind Side

Hip Mama reacts to the movie The Blind SIde.  This writer, LRC, always has an insightful take on where art and culture meet (or miss, depending on the case).  I'm especially moved by her third 'take away' from this film.  A girl after my heart.... (sigh.)  But seriously, her notes on the audience gender divide is also interesting.  Hollywood has long maintained that women don't go to the movies, but I wonder how outdated their stats are.  And finally, in a season overflowing with religious flag-waving, LRC is keeping it real and good with her observations.  Now, I want to see the movie, too.

Leather Jacket

Circa 1984.  Apparently my sister, D, kept this when I tossed it out.  That was years ago.  She says that she wore it a few times, too.  Then during a recent move, she packed it up and sent it back to me.  I wasn't looking for it but it has been a fun surprise. One surprised is that it still fit. I was so small back then.

Anyway, in order to get the full nostalgic effect, imagine a head of super big, curly, messy 80s hair, lots of thick black eye-liner, painted-on jeans and black slouchy boots with buckles.  Oh, and lose the glasses.  Then put me behind the wheel of a convertible or on the back of a motorcycle.  Or walking in the park. Probably smoking a cigarette.

I wore it to the movies the other night and felt like I was in costume when no one else was.

Wake Up

I saw this person crossing the street recently and happened to have my camera handy. (Lucky, I know.)  I remember the fashion of neon shoe laces and knits when they entered the scene the first time around. I personally find neon distracting and can't wear it.  I would have a seizure, I am certain.  I would also have one if any of my friends wore it (FYI).  The whole outfit sure does get you noticed, and I do admire bold fashion moves. Since it is Spring, I am taking this as a public display of seasonal inspiration. You know, something like,

"Wake up, World!  Green is walking down the street."