Dannie Doll giving a nu rave Foxy Brown M.I.A. drift racer feeling. Vintage 80's leather jacket in the shop.

Polyvore set: M.I.A. Desert Drifter by caramimi

Live fast, die young, bad girls do it well...

I finally got my girls and one big banana available for prints up on Society6.

Modern, roomy shape as 50's coat = get your Mad Men on... New in the shop.

Model: Dannie / Details: Dries Van Noten camel hair crocheted shawl turned circle scarf, vintage Middle Eastern metallic print cotton dress, vintage horn & brass bangles, brass studded leather collar, velvet leggings & clogs model's own.

First project of the year completed! It knitted up surprisingly fast.

I'm on such a knitter's high that I may tackle another hat soon.

Colors are wonky, but that's Instagram for you. First color is closest to actual shade.

Anyways, YAY!

I've started selling a few illustration and graphic design prints on Society6. Minis and smalls! Purchase from this link and enjoy free shipping till Dec 9th.

These visuals and jaded chicks want to hang around your walls...

Thai House Express

I managed to get up early, one Saturday, and grab a bite at one of my favorite Thai restaurants. Although the sun was blazing, a hot bowl of noodle soup fit the bill. This one's a hard (although not 'bad') habit to break.


#56) Tom Yum noodle soup with thin rice noodles, medium spicy. This soup delivers all the elements of Thai food I love, with a punch! Sour, salty, sweet and spicy. Pork, pork and more pork! Topped with peanuts and a generous sprinkling of pork cracklins. Needless to say, my sensitive tummy only allows me to indulge in this soup once in a while.


Possibly the best coconut juice I've ever had, next to the real thing. No sugar, no pulp.

I highly, highly recommend eating at their Larkin St. location. Don't let the neighborhood deter you from the great food. Although avoid ordering Chinese-type dishes --they're bland and unexciting, in my opinion.

Thai House Express
901 Larkin St @ Geary St
San Francisco, CA 94109
Neighborhood: Civic Center/Tenderloin
(415) 441-2248
Yelp reviews


photos: Antoinette Celes

You always leave a lasting impression

Reworking horn

My sister gave me a very pretty horn bracelet shaped simply in a round. I loved it, but found the sizing too loose for bundling up with other bracelets --my motto for wrist-wear is "More is more." I decided to do some research on reworking horn, and thought I might turn the bracelet into a cuff instead. During the process, I took another road and reworked it into this design. I'm in love with the end result!

Reworked horn bracelet with rubbed gold-leaf, wrapped in cobalt cotton thread.

Wrapper's Delight

These bouts of insomnia = wire-wrapped rings. I'm thinking of adding these to my shop.


(left-right): Red dyed bamboo coral stone, vintage brass-wrapped quartz (this was previously a pendant), and two rings of hematite beads. All stones & beads are either found, or deconstructed from thrifted/vintage jewelry.

Becca took us to the secret waterfall

It was three levels high. Behind the bamboo grove down South.

Burmese charm

I recently caught up with my good friend, Tim, for belated birthday celebrations over catch-up conversation and amazing food at Burmese Kitchen in the Tenderloin. If there's a Burmese restaurant in your area, and you've been curious to try the cuisine, I'd strongly advise to get thee bum there toute suite! I've experienced a myriad of flavors in my lifetime, but Burmese food -- in particular the fermented tea leaf salad -- is a whole new flavor profile for me, and has my tastebuds doing proverbial back flips... in a good way!

I also had the chance to give Tim a birthday charm necklace I made for him, of found objects, vintage jewelry findings, and some beautiful materials I've collected. He asked me to create something for him, and his birthday was a good excuse to get myself back into the materials & trinket bin. I thoughtfully contemplated the pairing of these items, in order to create something along a more masculine aesthetic. This was different from my usual design direction, and I enjoyed stepping out of my usual creative boundaries.


Ironically, Tim was sporting a lovely leather & metal bracelet from H&M, and a gorgeous, heavy silver-linked bracelet. They matched perfectly with the charm bracelet.


Stainless steel ball chain, with charms of antiqued silver ring, metal bullet, mother-of-pearl disc, carved shell leaf, puka shell, and silver articulated alligator (not shown). Found objects and vintage jewelry pieces.

fluerette

once a fleshy flower
silky as the crease inside the bend of my limbs
the beauty is fleeting
relative-ly
a face with folds like petals crushed
but your lingering scent permeates my mind
come lay down the melancholy blanket like a dear old friend


design: caramimi

Props

I'm really, really, really feeling the visual onslaught, and music knowledge of Freddy Allen Anzures from local design studio, props (www.p-r-o-p-s.com/). Sifting through his blog, videos and portfolio, inspired me to revisit a photo I have been working, and reworking for what seems like forever. Finally, the Milky Galactic Skull (below) can rest easy.

Now jones out and enjoy the view while watching the awesome Dam-Funk video for his Toeachizown album.

the last peeking

till i wrap you up in a thousand rain drops of despair...

charmed

When I last visited my mother, she gave me a pair of cross/dagger-like earrings, from Palau. They were made of real tortoiseshell. She assured me the turtle was in fact eaten, and the shell was used thereafter. It is illegal, in the US, to bring in tortoiseshell, so I suppose I'm a lawbreaker having these in my possession. For many Pacific cultures (my own included), eating turtle is a traditional food. Although I've never tried it, and not sure if my Western upbringing can go there. As a child, I once saw turtle soup made for a wedding, and I suffered mild culture shock, but have since been over it.....

These tortoiseshell pieces felt very special, and seemed to emit their own power. I combined one of the tortoiseshell pieces with mineral bits, I've collected, and strung it on simple hardware ball chain. I sometimes wear this charm necklace when I crave protection.

// Metal ball chain, tortoiseshell charm, vintage wire wrapped quartz crystal, vintage jasper-like stone with gold edging. Necklace made of mostly found, reused materials. The wood bowl, carved from one piece, was a find on a thrifting jaunt.

Banana eyeballs

Finally got around to refreshing my site. My burning eyeballs feel like bananas.

A bit of Spring wardrobe inspiration

Some past hits giving me new found inspiration. I've been neutral and monotone this past Fall/Winter. I'm loving color again, especially mixed prints with lots of gold jewelry and textures piled on top. Although I rarely wear pink, a hot version of this color has been catching my eye.


Mwar head garlands of bougainvillea and ylang ylang.


Shells, beads, silk, cotton, crepe, wood... a lovely mess.


A lovely pleated cotton tube with South American belt. I sometimes display this as soft sculpture, but I think I may make this into a dress this year.



Some jewelry and a top I did 3yrs ago. I'm kind of loving pearls and cotton lace again.



A leather hatlet I made. I like the shot of pink with the gilt ribbon, contrasted against dark, black leather. I need to get my hands back into the leather stash.



A gorgeous Korean hanbok found thrifting. I love this piece.


A dewy morning at my mother's house in Saipan.


A few pieces of my growing bangle/cuff collection.


Sometimes kitsch is beautiful.


This shimmers in the barest breeze.

// photos: caramimi

Slouch - restrained

Illustration + digital design, 2005. Pared down version of Slouch deux piece here. Invisible dress by Maison Martin Margiela.

objects & made things

Still life arrangements around my space, coupled with some things I've made.


little elephant made entirely of shells, with the exception of the funny googly-eyes. this piece reminds me of my chi chi guinea pig.


a lot going on here, but somewhat restrained. wood, wool, enamel, palm leaf. the hat is my attempt at weaving. the crocheted skull is something i felt compelled to make.


kokeshi on my mind....


a corner still. ballpoint/painting by mars-1, flyer for andrew schoultz's show at park life gallery, rose mesh sculpture.


an organ garden of mesh shapes. i'm collecting mesh and finding it manipulates beautifully.