Our Girl Lacey is Hitting the Big Time!

Check out our girl, Lacey Walker! She's on the Stay Cute website!!!

Indoor Photo Shoot With Acacia!

Cool shot!

In an effort to streamline the look of the photos for my new items, I decided to photograph Acacia in my living room/studio against the white wall I use as a backdrop for my mannequin photos.

Cultural Appropriation

I've recently been googling around trying to find cool images of turbans and headscarves. The overwhelming majority of such images are of white, western women wearing what is described as "ethnic" or "tribal" head gear. 

The messaging is that the wearer of the items is worldly, sophisticated, interesting, slightly exotic, and (of course) sexy. The wearer is seen as having a wild and free nature.

I've been thinking a lot lately about the cultural appropriation of textiles, especially since I have a business selling scarves that I make from vintage saris (particularly those made by northern Indian Banjara Gypsy people). I'm torn about my complicity in propagating colonialism. Am I appropriating? Am I engaging? 

A gaslighting society: How sexism makes us crazy.

Sexism on a daily basis. Institutionalized sexism. Sexism in disguise. What do these things do to our brains? I think we are being gaslighted on a continual basis, and I think we suffer a loss of confidence because of it. At least I am.

Gaslighting is emotional abuse that aims to make victims doubt their own sanity, perceptions, and memories. This is done by denying provable facts, disparaging the victim's character, claiming that a recollection is false, etc. This creates confusion and doubt in the victim. Over time, this erodes the self-esteem of the victim, effectively disarming them. This term is often used in relation to a narcissistic abuser. I am applying it to our society as a whole. 

Photo Shoot with Acacia: The Bosque

Another glorious day with Acacia. This time we went down to the Bosque. A bosque is the green strip of land on both sides of a river. So, really we've been going to the bosque all along, but this time we went to THE Bosque near the Rio Grande Nature Center at the end of Candelaria in ABQ. It's got a museum and visitor's center, maintained trails, and picnic benches. They also have a rescue center (Wildlife Rescue, Inc. of New Mexico) for any wildlife in distress. Last year, my son and I brought in a tiny nest of hummingbird babies that had been orphaned during a really bad storm. The lady told us that this is a very common occurrence during the wet season. They got accommodations for millions of hummingbird babies down there! They also have a great page with info on what to do when you find a hurt animal here.

For your head!

Amy

There is something mesmerizing about a woman in a head scarf or turban. There's an evocation of mystery, secret knowledge, worldliness, exoticism. 

From a practical standpoint, head scarves and turbans are beautiful, usually with eye-catching prints or colors that jazz up an outfit, hide bad hair, frame the face, protect the top of the head (a vulnerable spot!) from the sun, etc. etc. etc. They're pretty awesome.

They're also ubiquitous. Cloth on the head in some form or another is an ancient practice found all over the globe.

Can this be a sharing of textiles? I think often about cultural appropriation, especially as a merchant of traditional fabrics. But can this be thought of as a cultural exchange instead of cultural appropriation?

Albuquerque Style: Summerfest and the Railyards Revisited!

Every Abq event MUST have fancy cars. It's a must.

Another phenomenal spring weekend here in Albuquerque. Man, I used to think there was nothing to do in this town. Ever since I decided to take pictures of stylin people, I've discovered there's actually a TON of stuff going on! I've been missing out! Plus, it's a great excuse to talk to cute mens.

Saturday: Northeast Heights Summerfest! CHERRY POPPIN DADDIES headlined! WOW! They had food trucks, dog adoptions, wicked cool vendors, a huge beer garden, and of course an awesome musical lineup, including Albuquerque's favorite, Chat Lunatique. 

And of course, TONS of stylish peeps.

Photo Shoot With Acacia: Sunny Day!

Acacia and I met again this Sunday for a new photo shoot and it was an AMAZING DAY!!!

We went back to that same place along the Rio Grande. Everything is so green! Lots of reeds and beautiful grasses.

Photographing Acacia is SO FUN! She has this unique mix of wild bohemian and urban refinement. Plus she's a young woman just standing right on that precipice, ready to fly out over the world. That excitement and complexity is very compelling, and I feel it very strongly when I'm photographing her...

Featured Textile: Patola Sari

This beautiful, mysterious fabric was cut from a vintage silk Patola sari.

ABQ Style: Mother's Day at the Railyards!

This kid. Simple outfit. Striking look.

Albuquerque has a really awesome new happening! This is one of the most exciting things to happen in this town since I moved here 7 years ago.

I'll be using a lot of exclamation marks in this post.

The Rail Yards Market is "a celebration of Albuquerque arts, food, culture and music."  

Albuquerque Style: Day at the Races

Very stylish Chihuahua Wrangler.

Ascot has Ascot.

Kentucky has the Derby.

Albuquerque has:

RUNNING OF THE CHIHUAHUAS!

Photo Shoot with Acacia

We went down to the Rio Grande this past Sunday to do some shots for my shop and O MY GOD we had a great day!

Acacia is a 19-year old model living in Albuquerque. I know her through her mom, Megan, a well-known belly dancer/burlesque performer.

Featured Textile: Cotton Sari with Pua Kumbu Border

Let me just tell you, this sari (and subsequent scarf) is sooooo cool. It's much cooler than it looks in the pictures. It has a mod, hippie, tribal vibe, with a splash of true elegance. Many great elements to this one.

Featured Artist: John Hopper from The Textile Blog

Each day I receive little jewels in my facebook newsfeed: the Textile Blog's amazing photographs of amazing artworks. In between political rants, scandals, and the minutiae of past acquaintances' daily meanderings, these posts trickle in, providing a moment of quiet beauty, awe, and peace. These are grounding moments. These are moments in which I can re-center and remember that the world is a good place. This virtual curation and dissemination of treasures seems to be an art in itself.