Spring has Sprung

And i have not blogged in ages, not due to lack of material but because my computer is no more. The Olympics came and went; controversy and beer drinking made more headlines than the medal runs. My personal fave being that of the Japanese snowboarder Kazuhiro Kokubo (isn't he dreamy?). The circle of which I'm part celebrated with a 'torch' relay of our own and a closing ceremony to be remembered....and there's a chipped tooth to remind me of what i can't recall. But this is the internet and that is old news.

So what's new you ask? Plenty it seems, but it might be to soon to write about it here...A weekend filled with PG13 kind of fun has left me inspired. But my heads in the clouds so I can't seem to get much done. Whats the difference between daydream and reality anyway? The other day I zoned out during a class discussion on the concept of truth in life writing. With my eyes glazed over i raised my hand and proclaimed in typical burn-out fashion, "but isn't truth relative?..." As a spiritual being having a human experience, this weeks truth is a positive and negative charge - a Gemini and Sagittarius completing a circuit - a manifestation that is blowing my mind.

Love forever,
 Jamie

Trash Fashion

 ***Re-posted from DesignAWEAR

white trash gets stung

Okay...so i'm not sure how to start this post without verbal diarrhea containing 101 personal opinions regarding fast trash fashion boutiques. You know the ones, racks upon racks inexpensive clothes that hit the store before the ink has dried on the latest street trend photos. It's no secret that many most of these rapidly produced ultra trendy garments are of poor fit and worse quality.  Yet the majority of the population continues to flock to these stores like a sheep, recently shorn and in need of a good coat. But instead of a good coat they end up with a shitty one that they'll throw out by next season along with a few sparkly shirts, some cheap tights, and a handful crappy plastic jewelry. We've all been there, emptying our closet into boxes and bags meant for the nearest goodwill. "The belt loops ripped the first time i put them on; i wore this shirt once but it got all twisty after i put it through the wash; i haven't EVEN worn this!; uhg what was i thinking?; etc etc etc." We sigh at the x amount of dollars wasted and try to comfort ourselves with the thought of someone with less dough who will find the article on the next 50% off day at the thrift store. But lets be honest, that top wont last anyone more than a year before it falls to threads. And dont even get me started on the community of talented designers who all have to compete for the tiny market of conscious shoppers while the rest of the fashion savvy refuse to pay for good quality creative design that actually costs what its worth, fits well, and is made to last.

I am aware that there are many people who study fashion with the hope of job security in the form of a product development position in a large corporate chain. And there are even more who's first thought for next weekend's outfit leads them right to the corner of Yonge and Dundas (or the nearest sale rack at the mall). I generally try to bite my tounge and lead by example. But after reading this article in the New York Times the angst has turned into a ball of rage sitting in the pit of my stomache. This is what happens when clothing is produced at such a rapid pace that theres not enough time to sell half of whats made before the next trend takes over. As if these giants arent moving things to the end of the product lifecycle quickly enough, countless stores are skipping the consumer all together and heading straight for the dumpster. All in the name of brand scarcity i suppose. Read the article and form your own oppinion but please think about what your supporting when you spend your hard earned cash on the 'perfect outfit' for your date next friday.

Love Forever,
Jamie

Family Matters

A friend* and I were recently discussing the concept of a 'normal' family. There is this peculiar belief held by most of society that this ideal exists; a group of individuals tied together by blood and/or marriage who get together for holidays and Sunday dinners without incident**. In these homes the Christmas tree never falls down, birthday gifts are always thoughtful, and everyone agrees that the meal is delicious. When the topic of politics or religion does come up the debate rarely becomes heated because as we all know, those of a feather always have similar values and beliefs and fall generally close to one another on the political spectrum....or something like that.

What i want to know is where did this belief come from? I don't know a single person who would describe their own family as "normal". Sure some folks do a pretty good job for the duration of a meal or a birthday party but i assure you that as soon as the guests leave the masks come off. Take my family for example; theres an uncle who's trans-gendered, at least one person who's done time, and a cousin who's currently being brainwashed by a cult. And thats just on my fathers side. At any given family dinner you are sure to meet a left wing artist-of-sorts, an ultra conservative ideal of middle class manhood, and a closeted homosexual. To me, THIS is normal. Whats a few days at the parents house without too many empty bottles of wine, some tears, and a good laugh (probably at someone else's expense). As my older brother*** used to declare at the peak of an argument "We put the FUN in dysfunctional!"

Love Forever,

Jamie

*sister wife

**yelling, fighting, crying, hurt feelings, drunk uncle/aunt/brother/mother, general disappointment, etc...
***comic relief

Time for a Fresh Start...

It's like that feeling i get when i open a new sketchbook; excitement mixed with tentativeness...There will be many half finished, ill thought out drawings and ramblings within the pages, but the first one; it has to be good. It will be seen time and time again, it sets the mood, the first impression for anyone who opens it. The difference I suppose, is that the first blog posting doesn't have as much power. By the time i get to the 6th post this one will no longer be visible. Only those with serious procrastinating to do will click that 'older posts' button and go back in time to read what i was thinking about on this eight day in December, the year two thousand and nine. Such is the nature of the internet...such is the lives of the internet generation.

So what am i thinking about? Well, the other night i discovered the West Coast forests were oozing lactic acid. I instructed my friends to fill their bags with necessities such as bandannas and goggles (in case of dust storms), hid my vinyl collection, grabbed my water pouch, and headed to the local pub to warn family members and fellow drinkers about the impending apocalypse. What am i dreaming about? Art, design, and a sustainable future. A desire for small concrete truths in a vast and ambivalent universe. What do i know? Not much, but i have a lot of opinions. There's no hope of me staying off the black list so lets create a white list for the rest of us.

Love Forever,
Jamie