_ _ _Running_ _Stitch_ _ _

Alex Box & Rankin

While browsing online today, I came across some...

INNNSPIIIII-RAAAAA-TION!!!!!!!

Oddly enough, up until today, I had never heard of Alex Box.  She's fantastic!  She's the Make-Up Artist behind the UK brand Illamasqua.  She does the runway make-up looks for the likes of Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney and Karl Lagerfeld.  

She just released a book of breathtakingly artistic make-up images shot by photographer, Rankin.  Due to the respect of their copyright on their images, I dare not post them here!  Instead, I'll link you to Rankin's website where you can drool see for yourself!!

Try NOT to be inspired by the color, texture and creativity that is ooooozing out of these photos.

.........

Amazing quote on the Illamasqua blog:

ODE TO MY ALTER EGO

MY ALTER EGO IS THE PERSON I WANT TO BECOME.
SHE'S DARKER, BOLDER, BRAVER.
SHE'S A MORE INTERESTING VERSION OF ME.
SHE DOESN'T HOLD BACK.
SHE DOESN'T GIVE A DAMN.
SOMETIMES, I LET MYSELF BECOME MY OTHER I.
WHEN SHE WALKS OUT AND TAKES OVER,
I FALL IN LOVE WITH WHO I AM.

Open The Shutter

Something that is REALLY fun to experiment with is Exposure Photography (and Long Exposure Photography).  I've never really tried it before - even though my camera totally has the ability to do it.  What was I thinking?  It's so much fun!

It gives the ability to take amazing photos at night - as long as you have a tripod!  The room was completely pitch black when I took the following picture, except halfway through taking the photo, a car drove past.

What would happen if we lit a lighter in the dark room?

What would happen if we lit the lighter multiple times in different areas?

 

 

OH!  What about... our iPhones?

 

 

 

 

The clouds... moving!

 

 

Just the light from the window, and a bit of streetlight was all we had.  What an eerie photo.

 

Can you believe this picture was taken when it was BLACK outside?  It was 1am.

 

 

It looks like we're in a creepy magical forest...

 

 

 

 

 

 

What constellation do you see?

 

On YOUR camera - (this is just with a point and shoot!) - brighten the exposure all the way and then lengthen the shutter speed (mine went up to 15).  I can't wait to get a big monster camera and see the magic that can happen with THOSE settings!!

To see all my photos, check out my flickr...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/runningstitchpics/sets/72157622651874192/


Now go play with your camera!!

Ohh Ohhhh Oreo Balls

Bakerella.  You know her?

If not, let me introduce you!!  She's the master.  I look to her for all creative ventures in baking.  Seriously.  And you should, too.

I've made treats that I've seen on her website before.  Cake pops!  I wrote about it here.  

Recently, I saw Oreo Truffles on her site and they sounded SOOO easy to make.  I tried them out that night and what do you know?.... they ARE sooo easy to make.  Oh AND, so so so delicious!!!!!  People have been known to do crazy things during and after eating these things.

First, you crush up the Oreos.  The whole lot of them.  But just do a bit at a time so it's easier.  You could use a food processor - but I opt for the big weird wooden hand-me-down food hammer thing - because it is what I have!

Keep a few out - just to eat.  That is important.

Keep crushing.

And combine all of the powdery Oreo debris into a mixing bowl.

Take an 8 oz block of cream cheese and just flop the whole thing into the bowl.

Mix it super well until it's thick like play-doh.  Then roll it into bite-sized balls.

Stick the balls in the freezer for 20 minutes to harden a bit.  This helps a LOT when coating them in the chocolate.

I decided to use white chocolate.  You can find these at Jo-Anns!

Look how cute!!!!

 

I'm bringing these into work for a co-workers birthday.

I think they're going to be a hit!

Halloween Preview

Last year was a bloody zombiefest.

We had no shame in our ripped jeans, popped collars and douchy attitudes - as long as they were doused in mockery and fake blood.

It's fun to be scary... gross... creepy... weird...

But I want to swing the pendulum the other way this year for Halloween.

Sugary sweet.  Sickeningly cute.  But - still a little on the demented side, of course.  Most of that will come into play with the make-up and the attitude.

I can't wait to show you the entire look!!

Yay, Swappers Day

Swappers Day.

A 15-20 minute drive out into the farmlands of Johnstown, Ohio - a long line to park in a big field filled with cars that got there hours before you - hiking from the back of the field to the entrance - and a four dollar fee at the gate... provides you with access to a redneck shopping extravaganza!  

Oh!  No offense at all, though!  I mean that in the best possible way.  

It reminded me almost exactly of Brimfield, which I've written about before here.  I'm in total love with Brimfield and this was like Brimfields little backwoods baby.  

The focus of the day is really and truly... guns.  There are booths with guns for sale everywhere you look.  And knives.  And swords.  And tools.  But there are also puppies and turtles!  

And I even happened to find a few treasures of interest, myself - neither guns NOR puppies.

These tractors for example.  Notice anything special about them?

UM YEAH.  THEY ARE WERE SEWING MACHINES.

A few treasures even made their way home with me!

I've been longing for a bright red purse, preferably vintage.  Found it!

I'm not sure what this was supposed to be.  A scarf?  A sheet?  Neither?
It's a darn cute print is what it is and so it came home with me as well.

Some beautiful vintage trims!

I stared at this necklace for a long time, trying to decide what the heck it was made out of and whether or not it was really awesome or totally not.  I decided on awesome.  I can make it work.

And by the way, I think it's made of carved and painted wood pieces.  I gave it a good washing when I got it home.

OH!  AND!  I didn't take photos of this, but inside the purse were a few things.  The first thing I pulled out was one of those little plastic granny rain caps freshly folded in a packet.  That went in the trash, stat.  The next thing was a teeny tiny little pope-looking metallic gold plastic figurine in a container.  Yeah.  What to DO with such a thing??  

Finally, a stack of about 15 little religious cards that look like trading cards.  I thought they were (I'll trade you two Marys for your Jesus!) but on the backs there were "In loving memory of So-And-So, July 29th 1972".  Oh.  So she kept all of these... remembrance cards of everyone she knew, in her purse!  Aww.  So, now what to do with them?  The art on them is cool.  Maybe someone wants them for that?  Or for the fact that they're all almost 40 years old?  Holler if you want them.

Lesson of the day: I love buying treasures in fields.