2009 June | violet folklore

Archive for June, 2009

Crystal Unicorn Visions!

Posted on June 24th, 2009 in We Heart Etsy, photo shoot fun with 10 comments

From Sasha

Today me and Amber received a package in the mail that was almost too delightful to believe. Our friend and customer Hana from Japan sent us two gorgeous pieces of silk from antique kimonos (you should feel the silk! Such amazing quality and texture), along with very special amethysts from her crystal shop! Being purple, amethysts (as Hana pointed out to us) are the official stones of Violet Folklore, and these two are quite the prettiest we've ever seen. In an effort to give proper thanks, I took a series of photos today incorporating the crystals (and my lil' friend the unicorn)… here is a huge thanks to Hana for giving us these gifts that increase the magic and creativity in our lives!!!

(Anyone who wants to photoshop a fairy in, go for it! I think we could use one!)

The wheels of commerce never stop around here, and yes… this gorgeous Gunne is going to be for sale tomorrow:

Thanks also to our customer, who I will simply call Beachy, for encouraging me to take my photography to the next level. This sweet soul has really made my week. I love our customers!

More lovelies are coming, ladies… stay tuned.

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…Well Now You’re Just Being Silly.

Posted on June 24th, 2009 in photo shoot fun with 8 comments

From Sasha

(It's almost funnier if I don't explain, but what the heck!)

So Chris found this vintage 80s British Knights tracksuit at the Salvation Army, and he needed to take some pictures of it to put up on EBay. (We're counting on those rich hip-hoppers from the UK with their Old Skool pride!) I had found this incredible Fourth of July dress, and needed to take some pictures for Etsy. I got it in my head that this dress could make the Front Page if Etsy does a 4th of July theme, and the wheels started turning. My original idea involved a backdrop of my friend's very all-American Big Red Barn, but I couldn't go over there cause she had some relatives in town and it was just going to be too hard to explain to everyone what the heck I was doing down there. (I didn't want to use the usual "field of flowers" background cause I felt like it would be too distracting with the busy pattern of the dress.) Chris also needed something other than a wussy hillside of daisies to sell his tough, street-savvy duds.

So we set off into the Big Bad World to try to get the Fourth of July Dress shot. Well, it was just One Of Those Photoshoots where nothing looked right… not the light, not the background, not the look on my face… nuthin! Or so it appeared on the camera screen. Sometimes this happens, even with the coolest dress, and it is unbelievably frustrating. We ended up doing shoots against five- count em, FIVE!- backdrops, trying to get a decent shot. Continue Reading... (433 words + 4 images, estimated 1:44 mins reading time)

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The Gunne Sax That Made The Big Time

Posted on June 22nd, 2009 in behind the music- personal stuff, local artists, musicians, & other creative folk, prairie with 1 comment

From Sasha

So my radable-awesome friends Kymmie Sioux and Denah made the coolest short film in REAL 16mm, starring me as, what else, The Devil's Dairymaid (no I didn't have to apply for this position, I admit… it was an inside job!). Their film has been chosen to show as part of the Canyon Cinemas Queer Underground Showcase at the Roxie Theater in San Francisco, this Friday night the 26th. I will be there to catch it on the big screen, and I'd love to see you there!

You might note, watching the trailer below, that one of the most important visual elements is a gorgeous white full-length Gunne Sax dress! And yes, I do spill milk VERY clumsily all over it… but I'm supposed to be kind of, um, possessed, so you have to forgive me.

The other films all look amazing too. For tickets and more info go HERE…

Final Version – Devil's Dairymaid trailer from d.a. johnston on Vimeo.

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What Will You Wear To The Summer of Love?

Posted on June 18th, 2009 in 60s, 70s, photo shoot fun, prairie with 3 comments

From Sasha

You might notice that we are getting more things in the shop on a regular basis these days. There is a wonderful explanation– I finally cut down hours at my day job! Now I can split my working hours between my office manager gig and Violet Folklore. This is my first week with the new schedule, and I am so ecstatically happy! It seems a funny thing to do in (here it comes) "these economic times"– and I don't say that lightly, since my hunny's job appears to be going under, and we have no Plan B in place– but it just wasn't good for my brain to be spending so much time in one (non-artistic) mode all week long. Whether Violet Folklore is a big money-maker or not, it is creative work, and that's how I like to live. If we have to eat (more) beans and rice to get by, we will… and who knows, the big idea is that my consistent attention to the shop will grow our little business even more. It's worth a try!

(I hear women seldom celebrate their accomplishments, and we all know that we tend to lag on the self-care even if others are getting lots of our love, so I mention all this as an inspiration to you.)

Meanwhile, what ever will you wear to your personal Summer of Love? We have some ideas…