New Years Sale on Brave Prints!

Hey guys! Head over to my etsy shop to take advantage of my New Years Eve sale on my Brave Prints! I've still got some left on both the white and cream paper!

Etsy elcamino70

Brave Print available!

As you guys know, when I was in Spokane some months ago, I stopped by my old art department and printmaking studio to spend a week making a limited edition of screen prints. I had planned on offering these as a fundraiser for my trip (even though at that point, I was already 1,500 miles from home), but I was enjoying my trip and didn't want to focus on trying to get them all set up to sell so I waited a bit and finally now I have them all set and ready! So! Here is the print I did. It's actually based on this piece I did in 2009:

...which is a mixed media triptych. It's gold leaf, acrylic and cut out U.S. map on old cabinet doors. It's one of my favorite pieces I've ever made and was actually purchased by my university to be in the school's permanent collection, which was such an incredible honor.

This print is a 5 color hand printed screen print. I'm not sure if you can tell in the photos, but the gold sun is actually shimmery metallic gold ink, which turned out really amazing. I'm not the best at registering my multi-color screen prints, so the registration isn't as tight as the Winne bags (which were printed by an auto screen printing machine), but I kind of enjoy the imperfections and I hope you guys don't mind. You can just picture me standing above my work, drawing the ink across the screen. And then cursing myself when the registration isn't perfect. It adds character, right?

It's printed on both archival cream or white paper. The one photographed here is the cream paper, but in real life it looks less white- a little more like color of the background of my blog posts. It'd be a fun idea for a Christmas present for someone who likes art... or Winnebagos...

Instead of last time when I had you guys email me to reserve a bag, this time I've put the prints on etsy, so you can go directly there to purchase them! Easy as pie! There are 15 prints on white available, and 13 on the cream.

Etsy elcamino70

I want to thank you guys for all the support you've given me on this trip. Not only have you guys left the most amazing comments and sent incredibly wonderful emails, but some of you have also supported me financially by either donating, buying a Brave tote, and now with these prints (assuming they sell!). It's really great to have such a positive community surrounding me throughout my adventures. I can't wait for the next stage in my life- and best believe it won't be a sans-Brave stage!

Anchorage Style Guide... blech.

Okay, clearly my feelings regarding the Anchorage Style Guide are not hidden. I wrote an article for it because I'm going to grad school for Fashion Journalism and frankly, the more I can get my work out there, the better. But I must say, I'm kind of embarrassed to even be involved in this "publication" (in parenthesis because I think other publications might be ashamed to even be mentioned in the same category).

I'm a huge believer in excellence. What I mean by that is that I think that when you do something, anything, you should try to do it to the best of your abilities. You should take training to excel and hone your skills, and you should always be looking to make yourself better. I have been a barista for about a year and a half and I can't tell you how much it drives me insane to see people making shitty espresso. Not because I drink coffee religiously or even because I care that much about my own coffee, but because I think when you don't care about your craft, it says something about you. I don't plan on being a barista for the rest of my life, but I don't want to be ignorant about anything I do. I learned how to make excellent coffee and every time I pull a shot or steam milk, I'm training to be better.

That is all to illustrate my philosophy on pretty much all of life and to give you a basis for my critique. Now, on to the Anchorage Style Guide. On a continuum of magazine quality, from your ugliest, worst designed, most terribly written publication to, say, a Vogue or NYLON type magazine... ASG falls millimeters from the "ugliest, worst designed, most terribly written" end. I know, I know, I'm being pretty harsh -- I have high standards, people. And I've done this before, so I know this can be done better. (I no longer have a scanner so you'll have to deal with my photobooth photos and facial responses...)

My main problem:

The design is atrocious. I don't even know where to start, or if I even want to. Backgrounds= all pixelated. Which I find to be quite a feat for a half size magazine. Full spreads are only 11 inches! I don't know what resolution these people are using , but it's decidedly unsatisfactory. Lets keep it concise: Fonts=horrifying. Layouts=repulsive. Photography=mediocre at best. It's a shame because I'm sure there are talented people in Anchorage, but this magazine is not representative of any of them.

ASG, this is how it's done. I don't mean to be snarky or a tooter of ones own horn, but why is ASG so bad, when I can do this on my own with two or three volunteer staff members?

Secondary issues:

The fashion commentary in and of itself is just not great. Winter must-have accessories are over-the-knee boots, purple stuff, and cool headphones. I'm on board with the boots, but purple? Headphones? There weren't two other things that were more "must-have" than purple accessories and cool headphones? I'm baffled.

Photography. Granted, a good layout can make mediocre photography look better, but pair mediocre photography with an awful layout, and the result is terrible images. I'm not even a professional photographer and I know that I could have produced better images. And since we live in Alaska, why not take advantage of the incredible scenery in your images? Only one image in the whole magazine is outside, and it's on a lawn.

I love these images we took out at Beluga Point and in my own backyard. Why are there none of these kinds of images? Why, I say, Why???

I will say one positive thing about ASG. They picked a damn good make-up artist. Tess Weaver did my make-up for my photoshoot with Josh Newton and she's just a doll.

Anchorage Style Guide, do not feel singled out (well, do, but understand why). I will shred to bits any publication which is sub-par. Especially ones which are sub-par while attempting to be anything but (for example, the Wheels n Deals is exempt from my wrath). Things not exempt include the fonts Papyrus and Curlz, all fashion/style/art/music publications, almost all websites, newspapers, etc.

Perhaps I'm so disappointed because this is my hometown. I wish great things for this little city in the north. It hurts me so when people bring it down by doing things like this ASG. It deserves better. I almost want to say, "screw grad school" and give this city a magazine it deserves.

Okay, I got that out of my system.

Etsy update anyone?

I have a couple of new bootstraps up, and I still have my fascinators up, which would make great Christmas presents for fashionable friends and loved ones! I think I'm going to shut down ye olde etsy shoppe, as I doubt I'll be able to keep it up at school...

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade elcamino70.etsy.com

Foxy Nylons

I just got NYLON in the mail today! I haven't gotten NYLON in months! I forgot much it inspires me. I think we are on a similar style frequency, because I always seem to really enjoy the way they do things.

This month was their "It Girl" issue with Megan Fox on the cover. I don't have any particular affinity for her, but the style they put her in for this issue is kind of embodying my aesthetic right now.

Plaid, studs, jean cutoffs, chunky chain jewelry, white blazers, blazers in general, t-shirts, stripes.

I thought I'd try my hand at Polyvore for creating a Megan Fox for Nylon type outfit. Once I'm done with this post I'm going to go raid my little brother's closet for a great plaid. If my whole closet was full of plaid button down shirts I'm not sure I would complain.

If you haven't entered my giveaway yet, click here and leave a comment on the post to enter! Only one day left before I pick a winner!

Also, I updated my Etsy with a new option for bootstraps. These ones are gold colored and the studs are round, not square.

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade elcamino70.etsy.com

I'll eat you up, I love you so

So even though I wasn't totally wowed by Where the Wild Things Are, I WAS wowed by the Wild Things/Opening Ceremony collab, which was incredible!

In fact, I loved it so much that I immediately went out to Joanne's Fabrics and bought some faux fur fabric to make my own Wild Things skirt!

skirt/handmade : shirt/DIY : shoes/minnetonka

I wore my new jeans today! I love them. I can't believe how well they fit. I have a terrible time finding jeans that will fit me properly. I've wanted jeans like this for so long, I was amazed when I found them the first time I went shopping for jeans. Plus I got them on sale, 2 for $55!

blazer/little bro's : shirt/DIY : jeans/pac sun : shoes/payless : bootstraps/handmade

I've put some bootstraps on etsy, so if anyone wants some, head over to my shop and check it out!

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade elcamino70.etsy.com